Holman wins Riversdale in playoff
BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2011 Riversdale Cup | Final Round | 15 Mar 2011
Nathan Holman won the Riversdale Cup with a game of contrasts. Holman on the opening day fired a sizzling 10-under-par, 62, to equal the course record set by Daniel Beckmann in 2009. His second round became a stark reminder as to how hard this game is as he carded a sobering 3-over-par, 75, to move two behind second leader, Matt Stieger.
A third round even par 72 did Holman’s chances no harm as he moved into the share of the lead with New Zealand’s Ben Campbell at 7-under-par with Holman digging deep on the final day to pip a determined Matt Stieger following three play off holes to claim his first main amateur title.
Holman and Stieger had finished at 8-under-par after the door at these championships had been left open by Brett Drewitt who’d lead for the better part of the final round, only to record a string of bogies in the closing stages of the round to miss the playoff by a stroke.
In sport often a man’s agony is another’s joy. Rightly so Drewitt was gutted with the way he’d closed out his Riversdale campaign, knowing too well that his chances of collecting his first main stroke title had slipped through his fingers.
Drewitt is a class player in the making and yesterday’s experience will become one of many that he’ll encounter during his formative years on the world golfing stage. There’ll be other chances for him and you hope that Drewitt will take what he learnt yesterday and build upon it.
Full credit must be given to Holman, 19, with the way he closed out the playoff against the ever gritty Stieger. Stieger being the inform Australian amateur player of late, with a win at the Tasmanian Open a fortnight ago and a string of solid performances at the NSW Amateur, the Master of the Amateurs and a runner-up finish in the Dunes Medal. Holman held his nerve to collect this title from Stieger and did it in fashion.
Holman’s driving on the playoff hole, Riversdale’s 281 metre par 4 18th, was precision display of pressure golf as he threaded the green side bunkers with 260 metre bombs of drives on two of the three occasions the pair walked the hole, leaving short chips and creating the pressure upon Stieger, who’s driving during the playoff tested his short game to the limit.
“I’ve always wanted to win this one,” said Holman following the playoff.
“The first round set me up perfectly. It was mine to win at that stage but I had an ordinary second round. I kind of just stuck at it and got the win.”
Holman has been one of the more consistent Australian amateur players this season with top-10 finishes including the Master of the Amateurs, the Port Phillip Amateur, Northern Territory Open, Boroondara Cup, the Dunes Medal and at the 2009 Portsea Open Amateur.
“I hit three good drives on the playoff holes and thought that I could have closed it out on the first,” said Holman.
“Matt [Stieger] fought hard and to get this win is such a relief.”
Overnight co-leader with Holman, New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, experienced putting worries during the final round, recording a 3-over-par 75 to see another championship slip by finishing in a tie for 4th with fellow country man Ryan Fox at 4-under-par, three strokes behind Drewitt who finished at 7-under-par after rounds of 69-68-73-71.
The win at Riversdale moves Holman world ranking from just under the 500th mark to 221st and sets him nicely up for this week’s Australian Amateur championship scheduled to be contested at The Victoria and Holman’s home club, Woodlands, starting Wednesday.
“I’m looking forward to the Aussie Am at home,” says Holman.
“I’ve set my goals to win main events and have a crack at them. Winning and event like Riversdale with all the history and prestige is something that I’ve wanted to do. Hopefully, I can do well this week and bring this form into the Australian Amateur.”
At present Holman is keeping his victory at the Riversdale Cup in perspective. He knows his collected one of the most desired and prestigious titles in Australian amateur golf. Holman knows also that when in the breech that he can get across the line, like what happened today, and that’s a wonderful feeling for any emerging amateur to have.
This 2011 Riversdale Cup had everything a championship could possibly want.
Intrigue, passion, highs, lows and for the purists a course that was presented in raw historic style with wispy rough surrounds, but with a touch of subtle class with the ever pure greens and manicured perfect fairways. Throw in there a course record equalling round, a stellar field of Australian and international players, its easy to appreciate why this event is one of the finest in Australia.
