Jager is Federal Amateur champion again

BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 Federal Amateur Open Championship | Round Four | 05 Oct 2009

Matt Jager has fired a closing round 4-under-par, 68, to win his second Federal Amateur Open title with a 12-under-par score, two strokes ahead of Tim Hart.

Australia’s top ranked amateur yesterday fired a third-round, 66 to build upon opening rounds to 69-73. Today’s win was Jager’s first since winning the New Zealand Amateur in April.

Another emerging talent, Daniel Nisbet, fired a closing 6-under-par, 66, to move up ten places on the leaderboard to finish the tournament at 8-under-par and in third position after earlier rounds of 71-72-71. Luke Bleumink had another fine tournament with the Victorian finishing in 4th position with rounds of 69-70-70-71, whilst Brendan Smith fell back from his overnight tie for 3rd with Jager, to finish in 5th position after a closing round 1-over-par 73.

The win today for Jager was significant in a number of ways.

Since winning the New Zealand Amateur Championship last April, the 20-year-old has experienced his share of setbacks, particularly at the British Open in June after Jager opened the Championship with a course record, 66, at Formby Golf Club, only to fall short in the match-play. He’d at the time progressed to be as high as being the world number 5.

Since the British Amateur Jager had slipped back outside the world’s top-10 and had not made the impression in the US that he was hoping.

The win today should see Jager back inside the world top-10. It is also his first victory since the New Zealand Amateur and one he so dearly wanted and in some respect, needed.

“I came to Federal feeling my game was on the improve,” said Jager following his win.

“This is a great tournament and I’ve so many positive feelings playing here. Today, I played solid golf and was able to come down the last stretch without dropping a shot. That’s important in events like these and it’s great to win a tournament back-to-back”.

In a virtual repeat of his opening nine at last year’s Federal Amateur, Jager made his move on the field with an opening 4-under-par, 32, to be at 12-under-par at the turn and enjoyed a three stroke margin from nearest rival, Luke Bleumink. After a birdie the 10th to widen his margin by four from the field, Jager knew he was in the driver’s seat to take the title out after overnight leaders Tim Hart and Craig Hancock have fallen off the pace.

“It was another great opening nine for me,” remarked Jager.

“I was able to get some birdies in early and apply pressure to the field. I did the same last year, but it was the way I was able to again finish the event, which I feel was the best part of my tournament.

Tim Hart had applied the pressure upon Jager in the closing four holes were he had narrowed the margin down to just two going into the 15th. When Hart’s birdie putt narrowly missed on the 16th after Jager had made his par, his chances in this event had slipped by.

“I do feel like that I let this tournament slip,” remarked Hart who held the lead since Friday’s opening round.

“Overall I take plenty of positives away and I’m pleased with the way I was able to just hang in there at the end. It was a great victory from Matt and I move on feeling confident about my season.”

The win gives Jager an exemption into the 2010 British Amateur Championship where he’ll return and seek to make amends for events this year.

Throughout today’s final round Jager showed plenty of class and poise. He was able to break away from the field early and retain his focus to complete the win.

Today’s finish was what Jager was looking for in his first main Australian amateur tournament since returning from the UK and US. Early in the week Jager had remarked that he was needing a win after a disappointing recent US tour. His confidence has now returned and he’s primed for another solid Australian season.

“It’s great to win again and get the feeling back,” says Jager.

“I had changed a few things earlier in the year with my game and to see the results now happening with today’s win, sets me up well for this Australian season.”

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