Top 10 for Scrivener at Porter Cup

BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2010 Porter Cup | Round Four | 02 Aug 2010

Jason Scrivener secured a top-10 finish at the Porter Cup against one the strongest fields to compete in a main amateur event this season in the US.

Scrivener fired a 4-under-par total with rounds of 70-70-69-76 around the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, to finish nine strokes behind winner David Chung.

Chung’s 5-under-par, 65, in Saturday’s final round gave him a total of 13-under-par finish, that was good for a three stroke victory over 15-year-old Gavin Hall of Pittsford and Peter Uihlein, both of whom shot 10-under-par to tie for second.

Third round leader Russell Henley finished in 4th position after looking in contention earlier during the day, only to let a few putts slip by as Chung’s momentum on the closing nine was enough to secure the win for All-American out of Stanford University. Today’s victory at the Porter Cup was Chung’s second main amateur title after the world number 7 won the North & South Amateur in 2009.

Scrivener’s efforts in Lewiston were impressive and the result will hopefully sets the stage for the talented 21-year-old as the US season heads into the “serious” end with the Western Amateur this week and the US Amateur scheduled later in the month.

“It’s been a little frustrating for me with the results I’ve been getting here,” remarked Scrivener, who’s recorded a 17th at the Northeast Amateur and a tie for 16th at the Dogwood Invitational to date in US.

“It’s felt that I’ve played better than what I’ve been actually scoring. I feel that I’m building momentum as the trip progresses and to get a top-10 this week against the strength of the field that played is very pleasing.”

This is Scrivener’s third tour to the US with his best result a tie for 8th at the 2008 Players Amateur, although as a junior he recorded a runner-up finish at the 2007 Spirit International.

“I’m just not putting the way that I would like,” he says.

“That’s cost me recently as my ball striking has been very solid. The best thing is I feel that my game is getting better with each tournament and that’s reassuring with the Western Amateur and US Amateur qualifying coming up.”

Scrivener will attempt to qualify the week after next in Pittsburgh for a spot in the field in the US Amateur Championship which gets underway at Chambers Bay on 23 August 2010.

“The next few weeks will be tough, yet I’m looking forward to it,” says Scrivener with victories back in Australian in the Western Australian Amateur, the Mandurah Eastern Amateur and two top-10 finishes in National Trial Events this season.

“The other Aussies were only saying this week how different this year has been compared to others with the depth of the fields here. The competition is so strong and to get a top-10 like I did at the Porter Cup certainly is pleasing.”

Ryan McCarthy was the next best Australian behind Scrivener, finishing in a tie for 19th at 3-under-par after rounds of 74-69-65-69.

McCarthy made his move during the third round at the Porter Cup with a 5-under-par, 65, equally the tournament’s second low round and like Scrivener felt a little frustrated with his end result in Lewiston.

“I feel like I’m playing better than what I’m finishing,” says McCarthy who’s secured two other top-20 finishes so far this US tour.

“I’d like nothing better that to get that “W”. The fields are just so strong here compared to back in Australia. If I can keep playing into contention each tournament, you never know what might happen. Overall, I’m generally pleased with my game and are looking forward to Chicago."

Bryden Macpherson had another fine tournament finishing in a tie for 26th position at 1-under-par with rounds of 72-68-71-68. This season Macpherson has secured a 3rd place at the Dogwood Invitational, a top-20 at the Southern Amateur that’s seen the the dual 2009 Australian and New Zealand Amateur Stroke champion world ranking on the increase, The 19-year-old University of Georgia Freshman is currently sitting just outside the world top-20 and is our number 3 ranked player, behind Matt Jager (14) and Kieran Pratt (20).

Both Jager and Pratt were unable to get their “A” game happening at the Porter Cup with Jager finishing in a tie for 75th and Pratt ending his tournament in a tie for 63rd.

First round leader Luke Bleumink had opened with a sensational 6-under-par, 64, ended his Porter Cup in a tie for 40th along with Daniel Beckmann. Bleumink fired additional rounds of 74-72-72 to finish at plus-2, with Beckmann scoring rounds of 72-73-69-70.

Jordan Sherratt had another solid US tournament finishing in a tie for 33rd position with rounds of 70-71-69-70 to add to his top-10 finish at the Southern Amateur last week. British Amateur Champion and world number 1, Jin Jeong, finished his first US tournament with in a tie for 44th position at plus-3 after rounds of 69-70-72-72.

The Aussies move this week to the Chicago area to compete in the Western Amateur, considered by many as the second most prestigious US tournament behind that of the US Amateur, which gets underway at Skokie Country Club, Glencoe, staring Tuesday.