Tight finish on the cards at Australian Amateur
IN: News | Australian Mens Amateur | Australian Amateur Championship (2007) | by Anthony Powter | 24 Mar 2007
The third round of any tournament is considered moving day and it was no different at the Australian Amateur Stroke Play Championship this afternoon. Ben Parker the overnight leader struggled with a 77, opening the way for local favourite Scott Arnold and Andrew Dodt to claim the lead at 6 under.
Two internationals are poised in second position at 4 under, Scotland's Lloyd Saltman following a 68 and England's David Horsely with an impressive 66. Whilst Justin Roach sits alone in 5th place at 3 under.
Saltman is a force to be reckoned with, having secured the Silver Medal at the 2005 Open Championship at St Andrews as leading amateur, finishing 15th place overall at 5 under. He also won the 2005 St Andrew's Links Championship, the Brabazon Trophy, the Scottish Boys Stroke Play Championship and the English Amateur Stroke Play Championship.
American scholarships at Colorado and Augusta State have been turned down, Saltman preferring to remain in the UK and Europe to develop his game. His shots have a great flight to them and Saltman has an aura of control of himself and his game under pressure.
The Scot is sure to do well this week at NSW, in fact judging from his performances of 65 and 68 over the last two days, you would have to rank him as a real possibly to take out the Stroke Play championship tomorrow. He, like England's David Horsely, has his goals firmly set on making the Walker Cup team later in the year, the aim to take on the Americans in Ireland.
Despite the NSW layout this week not playing its full potential, with the par 5 18th out of action (that hole has been reduced to a measly 149 metre par three), its still presenting a challenge. The reconfigured course only measures 5888 metres and is a par 70 not 72, however, many still see the modified layout as challenging and in David Horsely's view, great for match play.
"Coming in, both 13 & 14 are reachable par 5's and give you an opportunity to be aggressive. That will be a great advantage during the match play rounds. I've had two 66's this week and today's round has brought me back into the championship. I kept it on the fairways and did not get caught on the short side when I missed the green. If you keep it in play all day, you'll score well, even if it's a shorter than normal course. There is still 17 great holes out there to play."
Justin Roach's driver and putter were again in action for this championship, with the Sydney local finishing with a 68 and in outright 5th position. With his father on the bag, "Team Roach" appears very poised and quietly confident of another strong performance in a major Australian Amateur event. Roach, like many this week, is scheduled to play the major American amateur events later in the year, a strong finish at the Australian Amateur is sure to make amends for the near miss at the Lake Macquarie Amateur Championship in January.
Defending champion Tim Stewart needs to produce something special in his final round tomorrow to survive the top 32 and progress to the match play format and Championship proper. Stewart finished with a 71, to be in T33 position and in danger of falling out of this championship. Rick Kulacz is another that will need to make a move as well, finding himself at T48 some three shots behind the top 32 position.
Andrew Dodt and Scott Arnold at present will take a two shot margin into the final round. Arnold's game this afternoon was flawless, his irons exhibiting a degree of precision common with many great wind players. Arnold is a member of NSW and the local knowledge is obviously paying dividends.
"I did everything pretty much the way I wanted this afternoon. Kept the ball in play and didn't rack up any big numbers. It's easy to do that out there on this course. One bad swing and it can change everything. You just have to keep it in play."
Dodt has similar views to playing the layout.
"Stroke play has different pressures to match play. You have to try and keep it in play otherwise you'll start having big numbers on a hole and then be out of it. In match play around here you can then be more aggressive, if you blow out on a hole you can just move to the next."
Despite the Australian's having the joint lead, you sense the internationals will have a say in this stroke play championship come tomorrow. They hold four of the top seven positions going into the final day, the stats are in their favour.
Whilst both Dodt and Arnold are in good form of late, it's the quiet Scot that you have to worry about. Two years ago, as a 19-year-old, Saltman had to pinch himself as he teed it up with the likes of Tiger Woods at St Andrews. That's in the past now and Saltman's fully aware where he currently stands at the Australian Amateur Stroke Play championship; close to victory.
Photo - Anthony Powter
