Roach attacks Australian Amateur

BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2007 Australian Amateur Championship | 28 Mar 2007

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In the morning he disposed of Llyod Sultman, a player 100 or so more positions higher in the world amateur ranking. In the afternoon, he polished off the talented English Elite team member, Steve Lewton, another player much higher ranked. There appears to be no stopping Justin Roach at this Australian Amateur Championship.

Roach, from his efforts today, has just claimed the two biggest victories in his career and it could not have come at a better time. To his credit, Roach hung in there, where at times the more fancied opponents had the upper hand. It was no more evident in Roach’s match with Steve Lewton, when he was two down and facing defeat on the 17th, yet “Roachy”, as he is know to his friends, managed to dig deep and find something special.

“This morning’s round against Lloyd Saltman got my momentum going. That was a huge win and when on the 13th, I holed that critical putt to get back into the match, that was the turning point.”

“It just went on from there and this afternoon, well I’m simply stoked to be playing tomorrow. The putt on the 17th against Steve was a ripper. I’m just glad it hit the centre of the cup, I might not be playing tomorrow otherwise.”

Brought up in the heartland of Sydney’s west, Roach wears his heart on his sleeve. Passionate about competing and always willing to give it a go, irrespective where his position in the field is.

His tenacity has paid off this summer. In the Lake Macquarie Amateur, Roach was unlucky not to be holding the trophy. That’s not taking anything away from Blake McGrory the eventual winner at Belmont, but the way Roach played, he should have been holding that trophy that week.

Last year we travelled together in America, when Roach was playing the American amateur tours. Always full of enthusiasm, welcoming you with a warm simile and firm “How’s it going?”. That’s Justin Roach and irrespective of who wins the Australian Amateur Championship tomorrow, he will not change.

“I’m pleased how I’m going. I’ve played well, both in the Lake Macquarie and this week. I’m pleased where I am and looking forward to playing Rohan [Blizard].”

Despite both players being NSW Squad members, they’ve never played against each other in match play. Blizard’s position in the Championship final was by way of victories over Rudi Bezuidenhout (1up) in the morning and talented 16-year-old Daniel Nisbet in the afternoon, 4 & 2.

Blizard earlier in the year won the Tasmanian Open in convincing fashion. There’s also strong finishes in the Dogwood Invitational and Eastern Amateur in the US. In his afternoon match it was Blizard’s shot game that accounted for Nisbet’s departure from the Championship.

“I got up and down a lot and was able to keep my patience and that just kept me in there. I putted better today and I’ve had troubles previously with my alignment, even at the Tasmanian Open when I won there. It just doesn’t feel right, but hopefully I’ll fix it out this evening for tomorrow.”

Blizard will take into tomorrow’s final the added advantage of playing his home course, a factor that he does not see as a big issue.

“This is such a tough course, you need to pick the line with your driver. One of the toughest greens is the 16th. There is simply no real surface to land your ball. I won my match there today against Rohan and it’s bound to play a factor tomorrow.”

“I’ll go out very aggressively tomorrow. The first three holes are there to be had. It’s a final and the bigger the lead you get early on the better.”

You would consider Blizard to have the edge now in this Championship, simply because he’s playing his own course. Yet he does not see it that way and is reserved as to his chances.

Roach today exhibited spirit and more importantly skill, well beyond his 179th world ranking, none so that on the 17th green with that massive putt to deny Steve Lewton a place in the final. Lewton was simply gutted, he played strong and smart match play golf all afternoon, yet had been denied the victory and a place in the final.

Take nothing away from either player, the Championship is open and for the taking; one thing is for certain, there’s bound to be plenty of aggression and attacking from both players in what promises to be a fitting final.

Photo – Anthony Powter