Pratt opens well at British Am
BY Anthony Powter | World Amateur Mens Tour | 2010 British Amateur Championship | Round One | 15 Jun 2010
Kieran Pratt fire an opening round 3-under-par 68 at Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland, to be in a share of 5th position in the British Amateur and a stroke behind the first round leaders Michael Stewart, Emilio Cuartero, Ian Winstanley and Rhys Enoch carded 4-under-par around the North Berwick layout.
Pratt, a three-time winner this season back in Australia, took honours of the day’s lowest round at Muirfield opening the the front nine with two birdies and a bogey to finish on the back nine at 2-under the card with a round that included five birdies and two bogeys.
“I played really well in patches today,” said Pratt this evening.
“I was hitting it well starting out and had it a couple under through seven holes, then it kind of left me for five holes. I just managed to scrap it round through the middle and then came home well with birdies at 12,15 and 16.”
Throughout the Australian season the 21-year-old has exhibited the form that rightfully justified his recent inclusion into the Australian National Squad just before Pratt left for the UK.
The Dunes Medal last December was Pratt’s maiden National Trial event title and the world number 14 has followed that with wins at the Victorian Medal and the Victorian Amateur Championship. In January, Pratt blew away the field at the Lake Macquarie Amateur with a 21-under-par total for a massive eleven stroke victory over Brendan Smith and in the process secured the tournament record previously set at 20-under by Peter O’Malley and Danny Lee.
This week at Muirfield has revealed to Pratt the style of game he needs so as to take it to the next level.
“I’ve learnt more how to manage my game around the course and my short game has improved tremendously,” says Pratt.
“Muirfield is one of the toughest courses I’ve even seen and played, so after a 68, I’m very happy with my start. I was pleased with my long irons which is pretty crucial around here, especially whilst the wind was getting up.”
With 288 players playing two rounds of stroke play, one each at Muirfield and North Berwick golf clubs, before 64 players and ties progress to the match play rounds beginning on Wednesday at Muirfield, Pratt is well positioned to make the cut following his stellar opening round.
“I need to play the same tomorrow with lots of irons off the tees and, if I can hole a few putts like today, I should be ok.”
Jin Jeong has also opened strongly in his first British Amateur with a 1-under-par 70 at Muirfield, to be currently in a tie for 27th position and only three strokes from the leaders.
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell remains in the mix to make the top-64 with even par 71 at Muirfield to be in a tie for 52nd position. Campbell, runner-up in the 2010 Australian Amateur, had a respectable 19th place finish at the St Andrews Links Trophy last week and feels his game moving in the right direction in the UK.
“I felt my round was solid given the way the course was playing,” said the 18-year-old Campbell.
“It’s tough and I know tomorrow that I’ll need to keep my game under control. Driving the ball well is the key to success here and you also have to be able to hit your long irons well into the greens. Overall, it’s just a great experience to be here and playing an event like this.”
Bryden Macpherson is the next best Australian behind Jeong, opening with a 1-over-par, 72, at Muirfield to be in a tie for 73rd position. Jordan Zunic opened with a 76 at North Berwick to be well down the field.
Matt Jager’s woes continue with the world number 7 firing an opening round of 6-over-par, 77, at Muirfield which has the dual Australian and New Zealand Amateur Champion in a tie for 218th position. With one round remaining to qualify for the match-play segment of the British Amateur, Jager will need to pull out a low second round at North Berwick to survive this championship.
