Stewart widens lead at Riversdale Cup
BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2007 Riversdale Cup | 11 Mar 2007
Tim Stewart will take a five shot margin into the final round of the Riversdale Cup tomorrow following a third round 4 under 68. Stewart’s second successive round in the 60’s sees the current Australian Amateur champion 12 under for the tournament. Michael Foster and Boyd Watts are Stewart’s nearest rivals, both at 7 under, followed by Do Kim at 6 under.
Only seven players bettered 70 during the third round on a layout that just passes 6000 metres, not long by modern standards, but is presenting a challenge with all players for the flat stick.
Stewart, following his third round this evening, felt his game this week has simply being about just getting the ball around Riversdale without doing too much.
“You have to place the ball in the right place on the greens here. If you’re above the hole or miss the green on the wrong side, there’s little chance of stopping the ball close to the hole coming back, it will roll 10 metres past. It reminds me a bit like my home club, Monash Golf Club in Sydney.”
“There are parts of this course to be had this week, a bit depends upon the wind which got up today and where they set the pins. The par 5’s are strong but the greens and missing them on the wrong side is what can hurt you. The greens are not too big and getting the right iron shot in will be the key.”
“Tomorrow I’m not going to change my approach to this layout. What’s been successful for me this week is that I’ve been getting the ball down well and keeping it in play. That’s enabled me to hit the greens close with my irons. I’m pleased with what’s happen this week and I’ve now got a shot at it.”
Stewart’s recent form identifies he’s been “giving it a shot” in the majority of the main amateur events this summer. Consistency wise, Stewart’s been impressive. In the last month he’s narrowly missed claiming the NSW Amateur, there was a 4th placing in the Tasmanian Open and a recent miss in a three way playoff in the NSW Cup, a 36 hole Vardon event. You get the feeling it’s got to be Stewart’s turn soon.
Victory tomorrow will put amends to these narrow misses, as well as move Stewart up from his current 20th world amateur ranking, the second highest Australian behind Bronson LaCassie (13th). Despite being still in its infancy, Stewart feels the new R&A ranking structure is giving Australians greater predominance on the world amateur stage.
“It’s still new but the new R&A world amateur ranking I feel has seen Australian’s get recognised and it helps when you’re applying to get into international events where you have a good ranking. That wasn’t available before.”
Stewart like most of our top amateurs has scheduled tournaments in both the UK and US this winter, starting with the St Andrews Links Trophy in early June.
Stewart’s aim this journey (his second) is to qualify and play the US Amateur Championship at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. For the present Stewart is focusing on the Riversdale layout, nothing else.
Despite being five shots behind Stewart, Michael Foster is a player to watch and ready for a move. Fresh from the recent Australian team victory in the SBS Invitational in New Zealand, Foster’s game has developed strongly of late, with a string of impressive finishes in major Australian amateur events, including the Dunes Medal (2nd), Lake Macquarie Amateur (9th) and Tasmanian Open (T18th).
Foster, like Stewart, is looking for that win. It will be interesting to see what the Western Australian can produce in the final round; realistically where he’s currently positioned, he’s got nothing to lose but to go for it. Opening two round leader, Andrew Dodt, had a day he’d rather forget, finishing with an uncharacteristic 76, despite opening strongly with rounds of 67 & 69. Dodt will be sure to be looking to improve tomorrow.
Tim Stewart has the benefit of taking a five shot advantage into the final round. The scores this week have been varied, the lowest to date, 66 which Stewart shares with New Zealander Travis O’Connell. It’s a fine place to be positioned and as Stewart commented this evening: "I’m please that I’ll be able to give it a shot". You sense that Stewart’s aim might be right this time.
Photo – Anthony Powter
