Rice Planters: Work in Progress for Stewart
IN: News | US Mens Amateur | Rice Planters Amateur (2006) | Wrap | by Anthony Powter | 10 Jul 2006
They say golf is a work in progress, nothing is certain and you do not know what lies ahead. Each game, each tournament must be taken at a time, the result then should follow.
Tim Stewart is exactly that, work in progress and despite what eventuated in the final round at the Rice Planters Amateur at Snee Farm Country Club, letting slip a four shot lead to give the Tournament to Tanner Ervin by a single shot, Stewart moves forward.
The Australian Amateur Champion is reaping the benefits of playing international competition and the dividends that will flow to Stewart this week from the Rice Planters Amateur, only build upon his recent experiences in the UK.
Stewart, who grew up playing golf in Singapore where his parents were based when he was 14 before they moved to Australia, approaches the game in a simplistic way, and it's the way he likes to keep it. He also approaches the major US amateur events more as an opportunity to gain experience, than a pursuit of winning events. Obviously, should a win fall his way, there would be no complaints.
At the Rice Planters Amateur this week he went close, but for an uncharacteristic last round 75, the tournament should have been his. Whatever transpired out there on the golf course on the final day will not be an issue for Stewart, but rather a learning experience.
For Stewart, golf is meant to be simple, not a detail analysis of "what could have been." There is no coach, rather he prefers to simply watch his swing on his video camera. Stewart is a feel player, whose focus is simply on gaining as much experience as he can whilst he is in America. That's the strategy, simple and very straight forward.
Stewart arrived early at Snee Farm Country Club to prepare for the tournament, not expecting much, but feeling his game was on the way up after battling the elements at Royal St Georges in the British Amateur. Snee Farm Country Club is nestled within the picturesque Snee Farm Community in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, a location that was in the 1800's used to raise cotton and indigo, therefore gaining the name "Rice Planters" to it's major tournament.
Snee Farm is a far cry from the wind swept links Stewart was playing in the UK and is more akin to his home track at Monash Country Club and Bayview Golf Club, on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Stewart this week felt more at home.
Australia had success at the Rice Planters Amateur last year when Tristan Lambert won the event in a rain reduced format. This year the Championship would fall into local hands, Tanner Ervin, a former Club Champion at Snee Farm Country Club.
Ervin is no slouch on the golf course, having qualified twice for the match play format in the US Amateur, 2003 at Oakmount and 2005 at Merion. Local knowledge would give the former 2002 Junior Rice Planters Champion the upper hand in the final round as Ervin's 70 to Stewart's closing 75 is all that made the difference and the result in the Championship.
For Stewart, it was a costly last round, but then again he'd tortured grueling five hour rounds earlier in the week, weather delays and was still feeling his game was on song; especially after his putting woes in the UK. Stewart comes away from the Rice Planters full of confidence and prepared for his next major US amateur event, the Eastern Amateur at Elizabeth Manor Golf & Country Club in Portsmouth, Virginia, starting Thursday. It was work in progress.
As for the other Australasian players, Phillip Watkins played solidly to finish the tournament 7th at 6 under, followed by Leigh Deagan and Kiwi, Mark Purser who both ended the tournament in equal 8th with 5 under. Rudi Bezuidenhout finished equal 35th at 5 followed by Justin Roach and Richie Gallichan at equal 43rd at 6. Grant Scott was then well back in the field after a closing 82 to finish equal 59th at 16.
Photo - Anthony Powter
