Sherratt wins NEC Master of the Amateurs
BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2010 NEC Master of the Amateurs | Round Four | 14 Jan 2010
Jordan Sherratt won the NEC Master of the Amateurs on the first play-off hole from American, Bud Cauley, to secure his biggest amateur win in his career so far.
The pair finished at 4-under-par for the tournament to force the second play-off in as many years at Yarra Yarra. When Cauley’s drive found the fairway bunker, Sherratt took full advantage of a peerless tee shot that split the fairway to nail his approach into the centre of the green and set up the victory.
The enormity of the win clearly showed on Sherratt’s face after he putted for a birdie as he came to grips with the result he’d achieved.
“I was playing very average out there at the beginning but just was able to grind it out,” said the 21-year-old after his round.
“It’s a great to win against a field like this.”
This week’s tournament attracted arguably the strongest amateur international field to ever play an Australian event with four of the top-10 world ranked amateur golfers, as ranked by the R&A, competing at Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Melbourne.
A two-time winner last season with the 2009 Riversdale Cup and a win at the Barrett Amateur in Canada, Sherratt with today’s win has secured starts at the British Amateur, Porter Cup, the Players Amateur, the Dogwood Invitational and the Canadian Men’s Amateur.
“It’s great to know that you have the season all planed,” remarked Sherratt.
“I’ll just keep trying to play the way that I can and not change anything too much. To tell you the truth, I’m still trying to come to grips with the win and what comes with it.”
Kieran Pratt had another stellar amateur tournament, finishing in 3rd position at 2-under-par and a stroke ahead of Matt Jager, who closed with a 2-under-par, 70 to finish at 1-under-par and in outright 4th position.
The world’s number 2, France’s Victor Dubuisson fired a closing round of 74 to finish at 2-over-par and in a tie for 5th position along with England’s Matt Haines, who finished with a round of 70.
The day’s low round went to local Daniel Beckmann with a 4-under-par 68, which had Beckmann in a tie for 7th along with New Zealand’s, Ben Campbell and Morgan Hoffmann from the USA.
Jordan Sherratt richly deserves to be the NEC Master of the Amateur Champion. He was able to capitalise on his opening 6-under-par 66 and despite a second round 74, retained his composure to take out a strong amateur field.
“This is something very real,” remarked Sherratt after his win.
“You never want to go down that road of a play-off, but luckily I got away with a victory and it could not have been better.”
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