Kieran Pratt: Taming the US

BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2010 Western Amateur Championship | General | 09 Aug 2010

Travel is something 22-year-old Kieran Pratt is becoming accustommed to, despite his dislike for airports and hotels. With more than nine weeks banked this overseas tour the Victorian returns home with an unblemished record and ready for a deserved rest from the game.

Pratt made the cut in every event he entered, both in the US and the UK. At last week’s Western Amateur at Skokie Country Club north of Chicago the world number 15 capped off this tour making the semi-finals in a tournament considered by many as ranked second in the world, behind only the US Amateur.

Throughout the Western Amateur Pratt displayed the fighting spirit legendary to the classic Aussie battler.

Skokie Country Club, site of Gene Sarazen’s victory in the 1922 US Open, demanded precision placement from the tee. The undulating greens on the Donald Ross design were rolling about 13 on the Stimpmeter and although soften by heavy rain earlier in the week, they presented a stern challenge. The fairways were lined by rough thicker than you’d find at most US Opens.

Pratt held his nerve at Skokie against a field that was littered with international talent and the very best of the US amateur line up. This was no more so than the way Pratt survived the 54 hole stroke qualification, birdying two of the last three holes to make the 16 man match play format as the 14th seed. No other of the ten strong Australian contingent survived the qualification rounds at the Western Amateur.

The final four holes at Skokie include the 250 yard par-3 16h, the 454 yard par 4 17th and the monster 464 yard par 4 18th that plays up-hill. All monsters by any player’s means. Pratt effectively owned Skokie’s back nine, winning all his matches from coming from behind.

“I held it together out there this week, especially on the closing holes,” said Pratt following his semi-final match against American, Gregor Main.

Pratt accounted for Sweden’s Henrik Norlander in the’sweet-16’ round, 3&1, American Yaroslav Merkulov, 3&2, in the quarter-final in a ’never-say-die’ approach.

Saturday’s semi-final against Gregor Main, winner of the 2009 Southern Amateur Championship and dual All-American, was a classic display of pure golf from Pratt. It was a match that could have gone either way and Pratt was to an extent unlucky, yet Main was a deserved winner.

Pratt during their match won the affection of the vocal American crowd, who were appreciating his fighting spirit against one their own. He may not have progressed to the final at the Western Amateur, going down to Main on the 19th after making birdie on the 18 to force the sudden death playoff, yet he was leaving the US with regained confidence and poise.

In the process of the grind of four rounds of elimination match play and 54 holes of stroke qualification and nine weeks on the road, Pratt certainly enjoyed himself and had also learnt about life on tour.

“You learn a lot about yourself when your on the road alone, which is a good thing I guess. One thing that I take away from being in the US is that I know that I can compete against the best in the world. Overall, this has been a tremendous tour for me.”

Pratt this tour had secured a tied 11th finish at the British Amateur stroke qualification and progressed to the top-32 in the matchplay. In the US he made the weekend in all tournaments he’d entered. His consistency in main amateur events, both here in the US and in the UK, will do his selection chances towards making the three man Eisenhower Team no damage either, as Golf Australia has opted to select a four man team that includes Matt Jager, Bryden Macpherson and Jordan Sherratt.

“It’s being a long tour with a lot of travel,” says Pratt.

“I’m looking forward to getting back home and seeing friends and family. I’ll then think about what’s happening later in the year with Eisenhower.”

With victories back in Australia this season with the Dunes Medal and Lake Macquarie Amateur, Pratt’s record is certainly impressive. He’s athletic and already possess a school of discipline equal to any seasoned sporting professional.

Pratt’s also gained valuable experience this tour here in the US and is better from it with playing outside his usual comfort zone against fields that are strong and courses that punish a player that’s not on his game.

We will follow with interest Pratt’s development as this is a name you will be hearing a lot more in the future, even if there is more travel which Pratt has to get use to.

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