Jeong in, Pratt out at British Am
BY Anthony Powter | World Amateur Mens Tour | 2010 British Amateur Championship | Quarter-Finals | 18 Jun 2010
Jin Jeong has made the quarter-finals of the match-play draw at the British Amateur being played at Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland.
Jeong, who last month led Waverley to their first Victorian Division 1 Major Pennant Flag after defeating 2006 winners, Kingswood, in the final will play Northern Island’s, Paul Cutler after Cutler accounted for Japan’s, Yuki Usami, 3&2.
This week at Muirfield as identified how Jeong, 21, is a serious threat to the field at the British Amateur. Despite being the Melbourne based South Korean’s first European tour, the world number 7 has certainly made his mark on the tournament.
Jeong defeated the 2010 Scottish Open Stroke Play Champion, France’s Romain Wattel, 4&3, this morning, and 2009 Boys Amateur Champion, Tom Lewis, 1-up in the afternoon to advance to the top-8.
With two national trial event wins this Australian season at the Tasmanian Open and Riversdale Cup, as well as two runner-up finishes with the Australian Amateur Medal and at the Keperra Bowl, Jeong certainly has the game and experience to continue to do well in this championship.
“I played well today in the conditions,” said Jeong this evening.
“I had three under this morning and two under in the afternoon, so I am very happy with the way I am playing now. The course is in great condition and I’m learning more about how to play it with with each round.”
Cutler will pose a stern test for Jeong in their quarter-final. Ranked 25th in the world, Cutler recently won the Lytham Trophy and has secured a number of strong wins in this tournament in the UK.
“Hopefully, I play like this tomorrow,” said Jeong about his quarter-final appearance against Cutler.
“I will do my best and see how it goes.”
Unfortunately for Kieran Pratt his fine run at the British Amateur came to an end when Japan’s Yuki Usami won their 3rd round match, 6&4.
Pratt had earlier accounted for Spain’s, Emilio Cuartero, 2-up in their second round match to set up his encounter with Usami.
Usami was able to get the jump on Pratt early in their match and the stellar form that had seen Pratt play some of his best golf to date evaded the two-time National Trial winner.
“I struggled today,” said Pratt following his round.
“I got off to a really slow start and just couldn’t get anything going. I had a glimmer of hope on the eleventh with a 15-footer for birdie, but any momentum left me after bogey up thirteen.”
Usami is the 2009 Japanese Amateur Champion and in 2008 finished second at the World University Games and his run at this tournament was ended the next round by Ireland’s Paul Cutler.
Pratt was obviously disappointed with today’s result against Usami, however, leaves Muirfield knowing that it been a great week for him and he heads onto the US main amateur events better from the experience.
“Obviously, I didn’t play like I wanted,” remarked Pratt.
“My opponent was pretty impressive today too and I guess that’s why the score was so one-sided. I think it’s been a pretty good week, especially given I feel like I have so much work to do. Hopefully, I can gain some momentum in the States and start playing the way I know I can.”
England’s Tommy Fleetwood, beaten finalist at Turnberry in the 2008 British Amateur Championship, and top seed in the match-play draw, was beaten by fellow countryman, Matthew Nixon, after Nixon sunk a birdie-three at the 18th to win 1-up.
Nixon will play Rhys Enoch, after Enoch overcame, Bolivia’s, Sebastian MacLean, 2&1.
Local Scottish hopes are very much alive in the form of James Byrne, a quarter-finalist last year at Formby, who negotiated his way through to the last eight after victories over Germany’s Stephan Jaeger and Englishman Alex Christie.
The Arizona State University based player will meet France’s, Edouard Espana. In the other remaining quarter-final, Chris England’s Paisley, the only Walker Cup player remaining in the field, will play Italy’s Andrea Pavan.
