Smedley, Walters smash course record at NEC

BY iseekgolf.com | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2006 NEC Master of the Amateurs | Round One | 16 Jan 2006

The 2006 NEC Master of the Amateurs tournament at Yarra Yarra Golf Club has started with a course record.

Victorian based professionals Carl Smedley and Euan Walters both carded 65 to smash the previous course record by two shots and take out the TaylorMade AmPro, the opening round of the NEC Master of the Amateurs.

The course record at Yarra Yarra had stood since 1996.

36-year-old Smedley turned professional in 1995 and has played “The Masters” the last seven years.

“It was my best round for a long time …the course and weather conditions were just perfect” Carl said.

35-year-old Euan Walters turned pro in 1994 and played in the United States last year.

He has also played the event before and praised the “Masters” and Yarra Yarra Golf Club for their support of young golfers.

Also beating the previous course record, New Zealander Travis O’Connell finished with a six under 66 and is the leading amateur after today’s opening round of the NEC Master of the Amateurs..

He won through to this year’s tournament with victory in the New Zealand qualifying round in Auckland last year: the first time a qualifying round had been held outside Australia.

Travis is three shots ahead of local golfer Andrew Tampion, who was the 2004 NEC Master of the Amateurs.

Three players are on two under 70 after today’s first round: Matthew Griffin, Jamie Crow And Ben Wharton.

The 2006 NEC Master of the Amateurs continues tomorrow and concludes on Thursday before the winner is presented with the “green jacket”

Source – NEC Master of the Amateurs