Day wins second Queensland Amateur title
IN: News | Queensland Mens | Queensland Amateur Championship (2006) | Grand Final | 05 May 2006
Jason Day (Hills) has defeated Ray Beaufils (Surfers Paradise) 6 & 5 in the final of the Queensland Amateur Championship today at the Gold Coast Burleigh Golf Club. It is Day's second Queensland Amateur Championship having won in 2004 at the tender age of 16 years. He is also the Queensland Medalist, winning the qualifying tournament for the Queensland Amateur held at Indooroopilly last week.
The match began this morning at 7:20am and after 3 holes Beaufils looked impressive and got to a 2up lead. His lead would deteriorate quickly however and by the 7th hole, Day had got the match back to all square courtesy of two birdies on the 5th and 7th holes. A birdie by Beaufils on the 8th was erroded by Day's birdie on the 9th and the players stood on the 10th all square.
It would be the last time Beaufils would be even with Day as he lost the next three holes. Day and Beaufils made a number of birdies on the way in from there and Beaufils managed to reduce the deficit to 2 down going into the lunch break after 18 holes.
Beaufils started the next round with a huge drive down the 1st at the Gold Coast Burleigh layout. The 472m par 5 was reduced to a drive and 7 iron for Beaufils who left his 2nd only 50cm from the cup, close enough to be conceded by Day. Day's eagle chip from the fringe went close but Beaufils has reduced the lead to 1.
Day didn't seem flustered though and then birdied the 21st , 23rd and 25th holes to win all three holes. The lead was back to 4up. Day played steady golf from there, while a three putt from short range on the 28th hole by Beaufils gave Day a 5up lead with only 8 holes remaining. Another birdie on the 29th by Day and Day was 6up. Beaufils hit the next par 5 green in two, however an up and down from the greenside bunker would give Day a birdie and likely victory. The missed eagle putt gave Day the Championship with a convincing 6 & 5 performance.
Beaufils should be proud of his performance though and played well today and throughout the week on a golf course that was in immaculate condition. His week will be one to remember as on day 1 he holed his drive on the par 4 3rd hole for an albatross hole-in-one.
Day's stroke score today would have shown a 67 (-4) this morning and he was (-5) through the 13 holes this afternoon, a -9 total for the day. In addition to the win here and last week, the 18-year-old recently won the Australian Medal in Hobart and it will be great to watch this young man's career unfold for the rest of 2006 and beyond.
Source - QGU
Photo - Anthony Powter
