Ten Aussies to tackle Dogwood
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2010 Dogwood Invitational | Preview | 30 Jun 2010
When the Dogwood Invitational starts tomorrow at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, it will be the first occasion in a major US amateur event this season that a full Australian contingent lines up to battle the Americans.
Ten Australians had entered the event spearheaded by Jason Scrivener and Tim Hart who are coming off a top-20 finish at last week’s Northeastern Amateur in Rhode Island, as well as Kieran Pratt, fresh from his stellar recent efforts at the British Amateur in Scotland.
With a tradition that dates back to 1941, the Dogwood Invitational is one of the prized American amateur majors on tour as reflected in its currently world amateur 21st ranking.
Pratt is competing in his first US tournament for 2010 following a solid stint in the UK that included a top-32 at the British Amateur. A three-time winner this season back in Australia and the highest ranked Australian competing this week at the Dogwood, Pratt is aiming to start his 2010 US season in style.
“I’ve played a few rounds now, because I’ve been here for a week or so,” said the world number 9.
“The course is certainly going to offer plenty of opportunity this week. It’s not long and not particularly difficult, the rough is getting pretty thick and the greens can be pretty subtle but it’s the kind of place you could get a big roll on.”
According to Pratt the trick to winning the Dogwood will be in how well a player controls the flat stick.
“I’m feeling ok coming in. Just keen to get off to a good start and take it from there. Going on the scoring from previous years it should get to 16 or 17 under, but it will be somewhat of a putting comp this week,” he says.
Scrivener is another who sees plenty of opportunity for low scoring around the Druid Hills layout.
“The course is in great condition and if you drive the ball well, there are a lot of chances for birdies,” remarks the three time winner this season back in Australia with The Australian Cup, the Mandurah Easter Amateur and the medal in his home state of Western Australia.
Despite the opportunities the layout presents, Scrivener recognises the challenges that will face the 156 player field during the four-round stroke format.
“You have to think your way around the layout,” says Scrivener.
“It’s extremely hot, so you want to stay focused. I’m currently feeling that my game is in a good place at the moment and last week was a solid start.”
Tim Hart is another that I favour to do well this week in Atlanta. Throughout the Australian season Hart accounted for some solid rounds and was unlucky not to collect his first National Trial event at the Federal Amateur, narrowly missing to Matt Jager on the final day.
“I’m feeling really good about this week,” says Hart.
“I played solid last week, my preparation has been great and just looking forward to getting out there.”
Jager, currently Australia’s highest ranked world amateur at 9, elected to stay in the UK in an attempt to qualify for The Open but unfortunately missed progression to the main draw, and to also play in the English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play championship in Liverpool where he finished well down the field. Jager’s first scheduled US amateur event will be the Western Amateur in August before attempting to qualify for the US Amateur in the same month.
Other Australians lining up this week in Atlanta include Luke Bleumink, Bryden Macpherson, Ryan McCarthy, Kalem Richardson, Jordan Sherratt, Brendan Smith and Mitch Krywulycz.
American Brian Harman won the Dogwood championship last year with an 18-under-par total for a four stroke margin over fellow American, Russell Henley.
Henley, the current world number 1 amateur, has entered the event and recently had a 16th-place finish at the US Open at Pebble Beach. Henley will be seeking to go one better this week at the Dogwood.
Henley is no stranger to Australian shores having played the Master of the Amateurs earlier in the year in Melbourne and knows the talent associated with this strong Australian contingent in Atlanta this week.
The best Australian finish last year went to Augusta State based collegiate player Mitch Krywulycz after firing rounds of 71-71-73-68 to finish at 5-under-par in a tie for 18th.
Less than a fortnight ago Krywulycz carded a final round of 4-under-par, 67, to finish in a tie for second at the Southeastern Amateur at the Country Club of Columbus in Georgia. Earlier in the month Krywulycz was instrumental with Augusta State team winning their first NCAA Championship title over collegiate golf powerhouse, Oklahoma State, at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee.
Adam Scott had a shot at the Dogwood title as an amateur as did Andrew Buckle, who won the Dogwood Invitational in 2002 to become the first and only Australian so far to claim the title. Asian Tour player, Rick Kulacz, has been the best performer in recent times, finishing 4th in 2006.
