Percy denies Leishman QLD double at Masters
BY iseekgolf.com | Von Nida Tour | 2006 Queensland Masters | Wrap | 22 Oct 2006
Cameron Percy has captured The Minniecon and Burke Queensland Masters title in dramatic fashion at the Willows Golf Resort.
The lanky Victorian was ruthless in his attack of the Willows Golf course carding a final round 67 to finish the tournament at 16 under par.
Percy set out this morning to post a low score and deny Leishman back to back victories. Leishman, the hottest property in Australian professional golf was looking to add the Queensland Masters title to the Toyota Southern Classic, The North Queensland X-Ray Services Cairns Classic and a victory on the Korean Tour.
The leading pair did not have all the glory of the final day to themselves as overnight leader Shane Baxter made the turn in 2 under par to be tied at the top with Leishman on 16 under par.
With the wind sweeping across the course and conditions toughening, a four shot swing on the 11th and 12th holes would prove to be Baxter’s undoing. The rookie lefthander from South Australia recorded a bogey, double bogey result as Leishman kicked it up a gear, playing the pair of holes in one under, to take a four shot lead with half a dozen holes to play.
A fast finish by former Victorian PGA champion Cameron Percy would change the way Leishman played the final holes. A bogey on 16 before a disastrous double bogey on 17 left him having to make a clutch seven foot downhill left to right putt for birdie to claw his way into a playoff with Percy.
The pair returned tournament scores of 16 under par before they headed back to the 18th tee for the first hole of the playoff. Leishman and Percy smashed 300 metre plus drives before Leishman two putted for an easy birdie, Percy would have to make a clutch three metre putt to force a 74th hole. He did and it would prove to be a tournament winner as the drama of the playoff rolled on. Percy smashed a drive and hit a five iron to within 1.5 metres and set up a two putt victory, as Leishman failed to make a two metre putt and handed the title to his rival.
Leishman will depart for the United States next week in a plan to capture the right to play on one of the lucrative US Tours. He faces the arduous task of negotiating three stages of the toughest Q- School in the world.
Leading amateur was Queensland State Team representative Nathan Uebergang, who clawed back a three shot deficit to steal the honours from visiting Victorian Matt Griffin, who stumbled at the finish to a respectable total of 287 to finish 1 under par for the tournament.
The Von Nida Tour continues the journey South with the next stop Ipswich for the Roadcon Group Queensland Open.
Source – PGA Australia
Photo – Anthony Powter
