Hart gets the “W” at Federal Am
BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2011 Federal Amateur Open Championship | Final Round | 08 Mar 2011
Tim Hart has won the Federal Amateur in style with a wire-to-wire seven stroke winning effort to secure his maiden main amateur title.
Hart fired rounds of 69-70-74-68 to finish at 7-under-par and in the process was the only player in the field to be under par. Kyle Grant was the nearest competitor to Hart finishing at even par after rounds of 74-73-68-73 for his best finish in a main amateur event, with Singapore’s Gregory Foo in 3rd position at 5-over-par.
It’s often remarked that a player is defined by their set backs more so than there victories. Tim Hart has had his share of set backs and has been no stranger to leading main amateur events only to miss collecting the desired “W”. Hart’s runner-up finishes include the 2009 Mandurah Easter Amateur, the 2008 NSW Amateur Championship, the 2009 Federal Amateur, 2009 Victorian Amateur, 2010 Queensland Amateur and the 2010 Port Phillip Amateur.
These sets backs have shaped him as a player and the win with the Federal Amateur was not only due, but well deserved for a player that’s continued to believed in himself that with hard work the results would follow.
“I say the win represents more of a relief than anything else,” said Hart.
“I’ve been close many times before and to finally get the win is a fantastic feeling. Lately, I’ve made a few changes to my setup and focused more on my pre-shot routine and that’s kept more score lower. To finish this event off the way I was able to is reassuring to me and gives me plenty of confidence leading into the Riversdale and Australian Amateur.”
Hart had travelled to Canberra with a new perspective as to where his game was at. The previous week at the Queensland PGA Championship he’d been paired with one of Australia’s great tour players, Craig Parry, during the 3rd round where Parry blasted a 64 around the City Golf Club layout in Toowoomba. Hart finished with a credible tie for 36th, yet the experience of playing a tournament round with one of the game’s greats had rubbed off.
“I came into this event in Canberra with a different approach,” said Hart.
“I’d seen Craig Parry shoot a 64 the week earlier and it was just amazing to watch how players like that put together a round. That spurred me on and showed me just how much difference there is in the game and what you have to aim for to win events.”
The win at the Federal Amateur is important for Hart in a number of ways. Not only does it signify his first main win after being so close numerous times before, the win proves to him that belief plays a pivotal role towards success.
“It becomes a confidence issue more than anything else,” says Hart.
“The field may not have been as strong as in the past, yet I was able to shoot a decent score and keep the large numbers off my card. That’s what I take away from this win, knowing that I can play four rounds of stroke and hold a score.”
The timing of the victory is also perfect for Hart with the Riversdale Cup starting this Friday and the Australian Amateur the following week in Melbourne.
“My confidence certainly will be up there and hopefully I can continue to play well in those events,” he says.
Hart’s keeping his maiden victory in perspective, knowing there will be plenty of other challenges and opportunities ahead in the forthcoming weeks as the Australian season gets down to the business end.
At present he’s basking in the glory of finally collecting that “W”, then he’ll be back to the range and the course to focus on his next victory. A victory, hopefully, that will not be far in between drinks.
