Aussie Brendan Smith leads Porter Cup
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 Porter Cup | Round One | 23 Jul 2009
Brendan Smith shares the three-way lead following the opening round of the Porter Cup being played at Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, New York.
Smith and Americans Cody Gribble and Tim Mickelson, all fired a 6-under-par 64 to have a one stroke lead over Nathan Smith. Gribble is soon to play out of the University of Texas in the fall, while Mickelson, who is currently the head golf coach at the University of San Diego, is the younger brother of professional golf Phil Mickelson.
Smith, runner-up twice this season back in Australia at the Lake Macquarie Amateur and the Keperra Bowl, played strongly at the British Amateur where the world number 27 finished with a top-5 at the stroke qualification rounds before being eliminated early in the match play segment of the championship. Smith is due for a win after playing into contention in numerous tournaments this season.
The 6-under-par opening round should provide Smith with the momentum to continue strongly at the Porter Cup. After a disappointing effort at last week’s Southern Amateur where Smith missed the cut after rounds of 75-77, today’s opening round of 64 was the perfect rebound for him.
“My game is a bit scratchy at the moment,” remarked Smith.
“I don’t have any expectations this week, but I’m just starting to hit the ball solid again and be patient out there. They are my goals for the week.”
Daniel Beckmann, runner-up to Scott Arnold at the Australian Amateur last March, also opened strongly with a 3-under-par 67 and is currently in a tie for 7th and the next best placed Australian.
Beckmann comes off a stellar Australian season where he won at Mandurah Easter Open for his second National Trial event after claiming the Federal Amateur back in 2007. This season, course records also fell Beckmann’s way at the Tasmanian Open, Riversdale Cup and at Royal Queensland.
The world number 35 has gone low in bigger tournaments, whilst his confidence has gone high. Beckmann’s opening round today another illustration of the power of his game and his capacity to play well in bigger events.
Tarquin MacManus continued with his fine run of late and opened with an even par 70 to be in a tie for 30th. MacManus last week finished in a respectable tie for 3rd at the Southern Amateur, after coming home with 5-under 67 for the final day low round. The Queenslander now based at Arizona State will be looking to go low tomorrow to make his move at this tournament.
The remaining Australians in the field will also need to make their moves during tomorrow’s second round if they are to challenge this week.
Matt Giles is at 1-over-par 71 to be in a tie for 45th along with Jason Scrivener. Jordan Sherratt is a 2-over and in a tie for 55th, whilst Ryan McCarthy is a stroke behind at 3-over-par in a tie for 65th along with Luke Bleumink.
Matt Jager and Daniel Nisbet opened with disappointing rounds to be well down the in field, with Jager shooting a 5-over-par 75 to be in a tie for 77th whilst Nisbet is one behind Jager after a 6-over-par 76.
This week’s Porter Cup certainly boasts one of the strongest fields assembled this season in the US. Regarded as one of the top US amateur tournaments with 11 Masters titles, 14 US Opens, 9 British Opens and 13 PGA Championships belonging to former Porter Cup champions. That’s certainly an impressive statistic.
