Beckmann heads NEC Amateur field

BY iseekgolf.com | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2007 NEC Master of the Amateurs | Round One | 15 Jan 2007

Melbourne amateur Daniel Beckmann has beaten home a very strong field of professional and amateur golfers in the opening round of the NEC Master of the Amateurs Championship being played at Yarra Yarra Golf Club.

Beckmann who was playing on his home course had a round of 66, two shots ahead of touring professionals Cameron Percy and Tim Wise. It took two play-off holes before PERCY took the lead. He later received the TaylorMade Am-Pro winner’s cheque as the leading professional.

Tournament director Peter Mann praised Beckmann’s efforts – “It was the strongest field in the championship’s ten year history. As well as the cream of Australian amateur golf, seven of the top 50 from the 2006 Australian PGA Order of Merit were here and there were current and past tour players from the US, European, Asian, Japanese, Korean and Canadian tours. For an amateur to end the day, two shots ahead of that field is quite remarkable,” he said.

Rich River amateur Ashley Umbers was just one shot behind the two pros and three shots behind the leader. Five amateurs are just two shots further back then another four just one shot behind them. So there will be plenty in striking distance of the leader when the second round of the 2007 NEC Master of the Amateurs Championship tees off tomorrow. The final round will be played on Thursday after which the champion will be presented with the coveted ’Green Jacket’.

Seven former “Green Jacket” winners were in the field today helping celebrate this event’s 10th anniversary; Barry Miles (1997), Brendan Jones (1999), Ben Meyers(2002), Heath D’Altera (2003), Andrew Tampion (2004), Ashley Hall (2005) and Jason Day (2006).

Be at Yarra Yarra tomorrow to see the next round in the battle to decide just who will win the 2007 “Green Jacket”.