Percy stands firm to win QLD PGA

BY Bruce Young | Von Nida Tour | 2006 Queensland PGA | Wrap | 05 Nov 2006

» Round Four Photo Gallery – 2006 QLD PGA

Cameron Percy Interview

Cameron Percy today won the Greater Building Society’s Queensland PGA Championship at Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast and in doing so won his second consecutive Von Nida Tour event. The win has moved Percy within striking distance of Marc Leishman on the 2006 Von Nida Tour Order of Merit.

The $15,750 Percy earns for his two shot victory over Aaron Townsend and Michael Brennan now sees him move to second place, just over $12,000 short of two time winner this season and the man who Percy beat two weeks ago in Townsville, Marc Leishman. With Leishman not playing next week in the final event of the Von Nida Tour season, the New South Wales Open, the door is wide open for Percy to take the title and the possibility of a start at the HSBC Champions event in China in twelve months time.

After the heavy rain yesterday and overnight, today dawned beautifully fine with Percy two shots ahead of Newcastle’s Aaron Townsend as the final round began. A missed opportunity by Percy at the first was made up for at the second when he holed from 20 feet for birdie and moved three ahead. "I wrote down in my yardage book this week that I wanted to birdie one hole in every three, said Percy. “I missed that one at the first so I was happy when I made that putt. I actually had to hit a four iron in there today after hitting a wedge yesterday so I was happy with the shot but happier with the putt.” A birdie at the par five fourth, after missing the green with his second was important, but when his playing partner, Townsend, hit a magnificent second to less than a metre, the difference was again just two.

In the groups ahead, the quality of the scoring, even though conditions were ideal, was difficult to comprehend. Peter Senior raced to the turn in six under 29 and stood at 15 under for the tournament at that stage. A soft bogey at the 10th slowed his momentum but he birdied the 14th and at 15 under he was very much in the mix. The others though would have their chances to play the holes on which Senior had already reaped birdies and it was clear the 47 year old would need at least two more if he was to be any chance. Unfortunately he bogeyed the 17th and his chance was gone.

Back to the final group and at the par five 6th Percy made a thinking mistake. “I really only needed to hit a wedge out of there,” said Percy referring to the fact that he found the fairway bunker from the tee. “I thought if I had been able to make birdie there I could put everyone else out of it but I found the water so I guess I was getting a little ahead of myself.”

The mistake however was the catalyst however for a run of three consecutive birdies for Percy that took him to 18 under par by the turn and he had maintained his lead. At the par three 13th Percy holed a very long putt (30 feet) for birdie and he had moved to 19 under.

At the 14th his tee shot was left and found the water but he dodged a bullet by salvaging par and when he birdied the 15th from 10 feet he had had again moved two clear of Townsend and Michael Brennan from Yamba who was slowly but surely putting together a final round of 64.

Percy missed a very makeable 12 footer for birdie at the 16th which would have sealed the deal but he did virtually just that at the next when he found the green at the dangerous par three 17th and two putted for par. He therefore had a two shot cushion over Townsend and Brennan as he played the last and after finding the fairway then the green and finishing 20 feet short and right with his approach, he had the luxury of knowing that two putts would get the job done.

While Percy led throughout he did not have the lead on his own at all times. Several players made runs to join his lead at various stages including Michael Curtain, Michael Brennan and Brad Kennedy, the latter of who would, for the second week in succession, shoot 63 on Sunday in a Von Nida Tour event only to fall short. Kennedy picked up four quick birdies early on the back nine but the task was too great for the second round leader after his disappointing third round of 73.

For Townsend his runner up placing brought back memories of his playoff loss in the very first Queensland PGA Championship at Emerald Lakes in 2003. Then he lost to David Diaz but although he would be the bridesmaid again he can take a lot out of a final day where he played very solidly.

Brennan collected his second runner up placing in his last three events having finished runner up to Marc Leishman at the North Queensland X-Ray Services Queensland Open three weeks ago. The much improved Brennan is now based on the Gold Coast working with his coach Kevin Healy at the Gary Edwin Golf Academy and since his move from Northern New South Wales his results speak for themselves.

Henry Epstien, Shane Baxter and Michael Curtain joined Brad Kennedy in a share of fourth at 17 under three behind Percy. Epstein will rue his triple bogey on Thursday but he has shown in recent weeks that he has more game than that of just the trick shot artistry skills he possesses.

South Australian, Baxter, has had another good finish after a similar placing in Townsville and Curtain will be a candidate for a Quit Smoking sponsorship having his best tournament since a decision to quit smoking a couple of weeks ago.

Local amateur Ray Beaufils was the best of the amateurs when he finished in 33rd place.

The last say however is with the winner Percy. “I’m feeling really good right now and am inspired enough to want to go out and hit more balls, putts and go to the gym etc,” he said. Cameron Percy is a name that we can now expect to hear a lot more from now that he has found what he needs to do make the most of his natural talent.

Photo – Anthony Powter