Day to play Beaufilis in QLD Amateur final
IN: News | Queensland Mens | Queensland Amateur Championship (2006) | Round Three | 04 May 2006
The Queensland Amateur Championship final will see outstanding golfer Jason Day (Hills) battle it out with impressive local player Ray Beaufils (Surfers Paradise) at the Gold Coast Burleigh Golf Club tomorrow. Day will be attempting to win his second Queensland Amateur Championship after winning in 2004 at the age of 16. Beaufils, a scholarship holder at the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS), will be looking for his most significant career victory to date.
The semi-finals of the 2006 Queensland Amateur Championship produced some outstanding golf today. Beaufils started relatively slowly this morning against fellow QAS scholarship holder Nathan Uebergang (Indooroopilly). Through nine holes Beaufils was 2up before birdies at the 12th, 13th, eagling 14, and then another two at the 15th and 16th holes. He missed a 5 footer on the 18th however still completed the 9 holes in just 30 strokes (-6) and his lead at the lunch break was 8up.
Beaufils then played steady golf, although a couple of loose shots delayed the inevitable victory. He finally defeated Uebergang 9 & 8 and secured his place in the final tomorrow.
The other semi-final also produced some unbelievable golf with Jason Day (Hills) battling it out with impressive 17-year-old Kevin Lee (Oxley). In this morning's round Day took the advantage and was 4 up through 17 holes. Day's lead was courtesy of an excellent stretch of holes from the 12th where he managed four consecutive birdies.
Then on the 368m par 4 18th hole, Lee spectacularly holed his 2nd shot and went to the break at 3 down. The interesting contest continued after lunch and although Lee never gave up it became obvious midway through the afternoon round that it would be too big a lead to give the Queensland and Australian Medallist, Day. Lee managed birdies on the 11th, 13th and 14th to try to keep the game alive but Day also birdied the 13th and 14th holes, which is where the match ended 5 & 4.
Tomorrow's clash will be a quality affair and those lucky enough to spectate will see two extremely competent ball strikers in action. Both players are in excellent form and have been the best performed this week to make a fitting final. The Queensland Amateur Championship was first played in 1900 and remains the State's most prestigious amateur golf tournament. The final will commence in the morning at 7:20 with the afternoon round scheduled to begin at 11:45am.
The semi-final results are listed below:
Jason Day def. Kevin Lee - 5 & 4
Ray Beaufils def. Nathan Uebergang - 9 & 8
Source - QGU
Photo - Anthony Powter
