Numbers soar at Mandurah Easter Amateur
IN: News | Australian Mens Amateur | Mandurah Easter Amateur Championship (2007) | by Anthony Powter | 08 Apr 2007
On a day at the Mandurah Easter Amateur where most struggled to post a decent score there was one exception, Victorian Josh Younger. Through consecutive rounds of 68, Younger leads the event at 8 under, enjoying a five shot buffer from Rohan Blizard, who is in outright second position. Overnight leader Ashley Umbers remains in contention in 3rd place, despite a three over second round 75.
Andrew Dodt is in outright 4th, at one under, followed by a cluster of players including Richie Gallichan and Jamie Arnold, 10 shots behind Yonger at 2 over.
Conditions were testing with strong winds and firm greens, making not only club selection vital, but also difficult. Three players including Blizard, Younger and Andrew Dodt recorded under par rounds; that was all. Most of the field failed to score under 80 and triple figures were recorded by the unfortunate few, as their tournament came to an abrupt end.
Dodt, the current Australian Stroke Play Champion, was pleased with his one under 71 especially given the way the conditions played, where even the shortest of putts became a real challenge.
“It’s nothing like what we had at NSW during the Aussie, but today it was certainly tough out there. The wind was strong. It was a two club difference at times. The challenge is with handling the gusts that come up in parts of this course. The wind rips through the tall trees and it’s difficult to judge.”
“Seven shots difference is not an issue when there are 36 holes left to play tomorrow. Coming off the Australian Amateur, I feel my game is good and tomorrow I’ll simply stick to my game plan, which is to keep it straight. You have to here, get behind one of those big gum trees and you’re dead.”
Rohan Blizard continues to reproduce the form that has seen him bag two major victories this year in Australia. A second round 3 under, to be five shots behind Younger, may see Blizard claiming his second victory in as many weeks, after securing the Australian Amateur Championship from Justin Roach less than a fortnight ago.
“I’m pleased with how my game is getting more consistent. Today especially was hard. Putting was difficult because of the wind and to finish with a 69 in these conditions is a real boost.”
“I’m looking forward to the New Zealand Amateur and with the way I’ve played this week, particularly in how I’ve been able to keep the ball in play, is a great booster going over there.”
Irrespective of where Blizard finishes tomorrow, his game of late appears to be getting stronger from event to event, making him a real challenge for next week’s New Zealand Amateur at Hamilton Golf Club, starting 15 April.
Blizard remarked after claiming the Australian Amateur that he made a slight change during the Tasmanian Open in how he positioned himself at address when putting. A change obviously for the better, Blizard is placed to be a real threat at the Mandurah Easter Amateur.
At present Josh Younger stands in the way of Blizard claiming another Australian major amateur title. Blizard already has a start in the British Amateur through winning the Australian Amateur title, Younger doesn’t. That alone is a motivating force for Younger.
Younger, like Blizard, has played consistently of late. In 2006 he won the Ivo Whitton Trophy for the lowest average stroke score of 67.23, in designated Victorian amateur events during that year. With wins in the Latrobe Open, Boroondara Cup, the Queenscliff Open, Murray Valley Open and the Bellarine Open, Younger is no stranger to being in the breech when the heat is on.
With 36 holes scheduled for the final day, the heat certainly will be on those within striking distance of Younger, like Dodt and Blizard, to apply the pressure and make a challenge for the title.
That’s one of the benefits of a format like at the Mandurah Easter Amateur with 36 holes left on the final day you can still have an opportunity to make a score. For most, however, their second round scores have proven too expensive, for them, their tournament is over.
Photo – Anthony Powter
