Stieger red-hot at Queensland Amateur
BY Anthony Powter | Queensland Mens Tour | 2010 Queensland Amateur Championship | Matt Stieger | Matchplay Round One | 04 May 2010
Mathew Stieger set a red hot pace today at the Queensland Amateur Championships being played at Pacific Harbour Golf Club, north of Brisbane. Stieger accounted for Chris Wilson, 10&9, in the first round of the championships to set up an encounter with Brett Rankin and in the process sent a stern message to the rest of the field that he’s a serious contender for the title.
This season Stieger has featured strongly in National Trial events with a tied 3rd at the Lake Macquarie Amateur in January, followed more recently with a runner-up finish behind Jason Scrivener at the Mandurah Easter Amateur in April. Stieger was also instrumental helping St Michael’s Golf Club win the Sydney Major Pennant flag, playing the number one position undefeated for the series.
The challenge associated with match play appears to be an area which Stieger excels, both at the Club and major competition level and after today’s win, he’s full of confidence heading into the championship.
“All year I’ve played well in match play,” says Stieger, winner of the 2009 Handa Junior Masters.
“Today was just one of those days where it all went right. I’m looking forward to the match against Brett Rankin tomorrow. It should be a solid contest as he’s an experience player and hopefully I can get that one across the line to keep it going all the way for my first major win.”
Stieger is another promising amateur to come through the junior amateur ranks this season along with good mate, Michael Williams. Both are coached by John Serhan and have made tremendous advances under his guidance over the last twelve months with Williams winning the NSW Amateur Stroke Title earlier in the year.
“In effect, this is my first year playing major amateur golf since coming from the country,” says Stieger.
“I’d love to win a main amateur event after been close a few times and I’m looking to make my mark in doing that here in Queensland. It’s a great start here for me, but I’ve got a tough match tomorrow to deal with first and we’ll see how it goes from there.”
Number 1 seed and Queensland Medalist, Cameron Smith, made it though his opening encounter accounting for Adam Gemmell, 3&2, and will meet Evan Sinclair in the second round after Sinclair won his match against Majid Hisyam.
Gavin Fairfax is set to meet the ever dangerous Tim Hart, finalist at the 2009 Victorian Amateur in what will be a stellar contest. Hart won his first round match, 3&2, over Benford with Fairfax eliminating Taylor McDonald, 3&2.
In the lower end of the draw, Brett Drewitt poses a serious threat for the title after winning his first round match over Viraat Badhwar, 6&5, to set up a second round encounter with Paul Griffiths with Griffiths disposing of Dillon Hart, 4&2.
Drewitt won the 2009 Jack Newton International, was runner-up to Kieran Pratt at the 2009 Dunes Medal, won the Avondale Amateur, was a quarter finalist at the NSW Amateur and is the number 2 seed at these championships. His form this season has also been impressive and is certainly a play to follow.
The second round sets the stage for an interesting battle at the Queensland Amateur Championship with a number of emerging and promising new faces in the Australian Amateur scene with Stieger, Drewitt and Smith, against the more established players in Hart, Fairfax and Rankin.
With 36 hole elimination match play the test, these championships promise to be an intriguing affair, possibly even revealing an new name come Friday’s final in Australian amateur golf.
