Dodt crowned Australian Amateur Stroke Play champion
IN: News | Australian Mens Amateur | Australian Amateur Championship (2007) | by Anthony Powter | 26 Mar 2007
It required four playoff holes to determine the 2007 Australian Stroke Play Champion after both Andrew Dodt and Scott Arnold finished tied at 4 under. Dodt would claim the title, but only after two testing putts, the second in particular from a good five to six feet. It was pressure at it's best and a fitting way to determine the title.
Dodt and Arnold had been at each other in classic match play, counter hitting each other with clutch putts at critical stages of the play off on the first three holes. On the fourth play off hole, Arnold had been unable to secure his par from the side of the green, leaving Dodt the opportunity to claim the title. That he did and it will be a putt he'll remember for a while.
Today's win had not come easily for the 2006 Malaysian Amateur Champion, Dodt's last major title. At one stage Dodt was 5 over going through 10 and it was only for birdies on the 14th and 17th, that enabled him to get back into contention.
"It took a while and I just kept fighting all day. The birdie on the 17th was critical as that levelled me with Scott [Arnold]. Lloyd [Satman] had his putt lip out, otherwise the three of us would have been going down the 18th level."
"The 14th was the turning point out there today for me. I was 5 over after 10 and the birdie there gave me a lift. I then hit it to a foot on the 15th and I went from there."
Obviously delighted with his win, Dodt was quick to identify there's more golf to be played this week.
"I just would like to now concentrate on getting through the first match play round tomorrow. The win today and how it unfolded is terrific. Now it's down to match play for the title proper. This is a great course for match play, with holes there for the taking if you play aggressive."
Scott Arnold agrees with Dodt about the strategy moving forward and is ready to tackle the match play format. Arnold's game this afternoon was similar to that of a seasoned professional. He held in there all day and when that long distance putt from more than 20 foot dropped on the 17th, you could sense he was hungry for a maiden home major amateur title.
Arnold has previous form at major amateur championships, winning the 2006 Hong Kong Amateur. Earlier in the year he made the semi-finals in the NSW Amateur, only to be denied the title there by eventual winner, Gary Wolstenholme. These experiences combined with starts in the NSW Open and the Hong Kong Open, have enabled Arnold to continue to develop his game and that's his main objective at present.
"Full credit to Dodty getting down with two great putts on the 4th play off hole. My double on the 15th today hurt. I made up for it on the 17th with that 20 footer, as well as getting up and down on the 18th, after I flew the green."
"Looking back I played some great golf especially that shot from off the back of the green on 18 to get into the playoff. I've now got the match play to focus on and see if I can go that extra yard and get the title."
Arnold is not alone with looking forward to the match play format, starting tomorrow with two rounds being scheduled to make up for yesterday's cancelled round. A player to watch as this Championship unfolds is Scotland's Lloyd Saltman, who finished 3rd, missing the play off by a shot. It's a return to form for Saltman, the leading amateur in The Open Championship in 2005 and former Walker Cup player.
"I took the aggressive line on the 18th with the driver and then ended up with a bad lie. I had to go for it as I had nothing to lose. The others used irons, so I went for the green with my driver. It didn't come off, but I gave it a try."
"I've been playing well lately. Even last year I had a lot of good finishes, just no spark. In 2005 with The Open and the Walker Cup in Chicago, it was a big year for me and things like today just boost you up."
"I'm looking forward to getting out there and going one on one. This is a course that you can take on. Holes like the first and the last, you can go for it, and it's bound to make match play exciting."
Rudi Bezuidenhout was another standout performer this week. His final round 68 moved him into a share of fourth place, along with Justin Roach and Scott Henry at one under for the Championship. England's David Horsely was next in outright 5th at even par.
With victory in today's Australian Amateur Stroke Play Championship, the spoils follow for Andrew Dodt. A start is now guaranteed for the Australian Open later in the year and he joins former winners of the title like Brendan Jones, Steve Bowditch, Andrew Buckle, Brad Iles and Jason Day.
Dodt is obviously pleased with his win and so he should after winning the hard way through not one, but four extra holes. It's bound to be a confidence booster, not just for Andrew Dodt but Scott Arnold, moving into the Championship proper.
Photo - Anthony Powter
