Dewitt defeats Hart in QLD Amateur final

BY Anthony Powter | Queensland Mens Tour | 2010 Queensland Amateur Championship | Grand Final | 09 May 2010

Brett Drewitt pulled out a “get out of gaol” card during the second half of the Queensland Amateur Championship final to win his first major amateur title when he fought back from 5 down after 19 holes to defeat Tim Hart, 1-up, at Pacific Harbour Golf and Country Club.

Drewitt’s resolve and determination was buoyed on from his near miss in the Stroke Championships here when Cameron Smith denied him of that title on the eighth extra play-off hole. Securing the Queensland Amateur Championship title proper with a stunning comeback was simply a bitter sweet experience for Drewitt and one that’s well deserved.

Earlier in the final Hart had moved to a seemly immutable position during the morning session and looked set to claim his first major title after amassing a five hole lead at the turn.

Hart in recent times has experienced his share of close encounters with being runner-up to Matt Jager at the 2009 Federal Amateur Championships and again falling one short to Kieran Pratt at the 2009 Victorian Amateur Championship. Yet he’ll have to wait for another change following Drewitt’s stellar efforts.

It was chilling blow for Hart and the disappointment with seeing another title slip through was obvious for the world number 62, who since the Federal Amateur last October in Canberra has secured nine top-10 finishes in eleven starts in main Australian Amateur events. Despite this result at the Queensland Amateur, Hart will head to this week’s Keperra Bowl one of the favourites.

Full credit must be given to Drewitt for his sturdy and gutsy comeback. He hung in there in the face of adversity to claw his way back into the final and eventually win the title with a nail-bitting birdie on the 35th hole. It was the first occasion in the final the lead had fallen Drewitt’s way and it could not have occurred at a better time.

“After the first 18 holes in the final, I said to myself “I’m not letting this go this easily”, and I was just trying to go out and try and beat him on the last 18," said Drewitt regarding his comeback.

“I sunk some clutch putts early and then managed to get my way back into the match. I fought hard out there and are wrapped with how I was able to finally get the job done with that birdie on the 35th.”

Drewitt had earlier accounted for Brett Rankin in Thursday’s semi-final, 1-up, to set up the final encounter, following Hart’s victory over 2010 Queensland Medalist and top seed, Cameron Smith, 2&1.

“I felt like I played consistent during these championships and was getting better with each match,” said Drewitt.

“I never felt like that I was going to loose any of the matches leading to the final. The Final was certainly a different affair. It was a tussle. It just goes to show that anything can happen in match play and that certainly occurred out there in this final.”

The win in the Queensland Amateur Championship stakes Drewitt’s mark as one of the up-comers on the Australian Amateur circuit. It will be interesting to follow his progress as his game evolves in these main amateur events.

As a junior he’s already experienced success and Drewitt is now aiming to go the next step with his game and compete seriously at the top amateur level.

In 2009 he won the Jack Newton International, was runner-up to Kieran Pratt at the 2009 Dunes Medal, won the Avondale Amateur earlier this year, was a quarter-finalist at the 2010 New South Wales Amateur. These achievements were all in what can be considered Drewitt’s “rookie” year in major amateur golf since progressing from the junior ranks.

“My goal is to get established in these events and challenge for these titles,” says Drewitt.

“I now feel like I belong out there and this win certainly gives me the lift that I’m after to go back out next week at Keperra to try and get another title. That’s the aim.”