Brown closes in on British Amateur final

BY Anthony Powter | European Amateur Tour | 2006 British Amateur Championship | Round Four | 23 Jun 2006

Australia’s Mitchell Brown is one step away from playing in the British Amateur Championship final after he is disposed of former Champion Gary Wolstenholme 4 & 3 early this evening at Royal St George’s in Kent, England.

Brown remains Australia’s last hope after Scottish International, Scott Jamieson proved too strong winning 3 & 2 against Jamie Arnold in their 3rd round encounter. The other Australian causality was Stephen Dartnall, losing his match 1 down to Englishman Jason Palmer, a former British Open Qualifier and 2005 Volkswagen Masters World Champion.

Before leaving for Europe, Brown was clear that his main goals he wanted to achieve before he turns professional in October were to win a major amateur championship and make the Eisenhower Team.

He missed the Australian Amateur Championship title this year to an in-form Tim Stewart, whose putter that week in Hobart was simply too hot to handle. Brown on the morning of going into the Australian Amateur final felt his driving and iron play were the best they’ve been but he knew his putter was letting him down.

This week at the British Amateur, Brown’s putter is behaving and the up and down on the 18th hole where he sunk a delicate two metre putt to secure a 1 up victory over Stephen Lewton in this morning’s Quarter Final is a clear indication Brown’s overall game is coming together at a critical time; the serious end of the match play format of a major amateur championship.

Brown is certainly on track to be a serious contender for the British Amateur and given his consistent performances both locally and internationally looking very much the part to being selected for one of only three positions in the National Team and play in the World Amateur Team Championship in South Africa in October.

“I want to make the Eisenhower Team and play in the World Amateur Team Championships. That is one of my main goals whilst I’m still an amateur as well as winning major championship. Win some main championships and your chances for selection greatly improve”, said the 20-year-old before he left.

Thoughts of his team selection are sure to be in the back of Brown’s mind when he plays Julien Guerrier of France in the semi-final later this evening.

Guerrier made the third round of the British Amateur last year after qualifying equal third in the stroke play format and has since played on sponsor’s invites on the European Tour and in a number of amateur internationals for France. Guerrier represented France in the 2005 European Team Championship scoring a 6 under 66 in the second stroke round, the lowest score of any player during that Championship. Guerrier will certainly test Brown in their first encounter.

Brown will be asking good friend and Australia’s highest ranked world amateur Won Joon Lee for some advice before the semi-final later this evening. Lee defeated Guerrier earlier this year in the quarter finals of the Sanlam South African Amateur. You can be sure some subtle words of advice will be exchanged.

The other semi is between two Englishmen, who played in Australia this summer, Jamie Moul and Adam Gee the Lake Macquarie Amateur Champion.

For the victor claiming the British Amateur Championship tomorrow evening come the spoils – an invitation to next year’s Masters and this year’s British Open.

Although a spot in this year’s British Open is attractive, playing in the Masters is by far the biggest reward for six days of hard work.

Photo – Anthony Powter