Aussies Blizard, Scott to battle in NZ Amateur
IN: News | New Zealand Mens Amateur | New Zealand Amateur Championship (2007) | by Anthony Powter | 20 Apr 2007
As luck would have it the two of the three remaining Australian’s in the New Zealand Amateur, Grant Scott and Rohan Blizard are to face each other in the quarter-finals of the New Zealand Amateur Championship following the first day of the match play.
Brent Watson the third remaining Australian, also will have a guaranteed tussle against New Zealander, James Gill, who earlier in the week won the New Zealand Stroke Play Championship.
Eight Australians had earlier qualified for the top 32 places in the Championship proper, which commenced this morning at Hamilton Golf Club, located on New Zealand’s north island. Early Australian casualties in the first round included Tim Stewart, who lost 5&4 to Danny Lee, Brenton Haines who fell to an inform Grant Scott 7&6, whilst Andrew Dodt was unable to hold off Richard Pegg, who won their match 4&3.
Five Australians made it through to the second round where Michael Foster was beaten by James Gill 2&1, whilst Rohan Blizard accounted for fellow team mate Jamie Arnold 3&2. Brent Watson has progressed to the quarter-finals and is set to play James Gill, whilst Grant Scott continued his fine form in New Zealand overcoming Troy Ropiha 4&3.
It certainly has been a different week at Hamilton for Scott. With good mate Justin Roach, they claimed the New Zealand Foursomes Championship, the first major championship for the two. Scott then played into contention in the New Zealand Stroke Play Championship with two opening 69’s, to finish a respectable T12th.
Everything has come together for Scott both in his game and the way he’s approaching playing golf.
“2006 was not that good of a year for me results wise. I felt I was playing well, but the results just weren’t there compared to 2005. Winning the New Zealand Foursomes earlier in the week, was a real confidence booster and I’ve got Roachy on the bag this week with me giving me plenty of encouragement.”
Scott says he has nothing to lose going into tomorrow’s quarter-final against Rohan Blizard and is looking forward to the encounter.
“We’ve practiced together many times when I was in the NSW team, but never actually come across each other in match play. Rohan has won the Australian Amateur, which probably puts a bit more focus upon him. I feel I have nothing to lose here and plan to go out aggressively.”
“You can play aggressively around this course, even if you spray a drive, the chances are you’ll be able to play a recovery shot.”
It’s the similar confidence that has resulted in Scott making the semi-finals in the 2005 Queensland Amateur, the quarter-finals in the 2005 Victorian Amateur as well as his recent top 10 finish at the Lake Macquarie Amateur. He’s played the major American amateur events and is acutely aware of the pressures of match play and how the subtle of events can change a match.
Take Rohan Blizard’s albatross on the 4th hole of his match with Jamie Arnold as an example. Agreed you probably would rather have it in a stroke event, but Blizard is not complaining and is full of confidence with his game.
“There’re a few shorter holes on this course which you can attack. I had about 195 metres to the pin and just struck a 4 iron perfectly. It went in, bang an albatross.”
“I’ve played well all week and have been driving the ball well. It’s a course where they can tuck the pins behind bunkers; so getting the right angle in becomes important. Today I probably got to 6 under, so I feel that I’m playing well.”
Sydneysider Brent Watson played his way into contention today and is set to play his biggest match of his career to date, when he takes on local favourite James Gill.
Watson, like Scott, has nothing to lose at this Championship. It’s the first occasion Watson has made it to the top eight in a major national amateur championship and a win tomorrow against a more fancied opponent in Gill would elevate his standing amongst the amateur ranks.
In circumstances similar to that which Blizard had in the Australian Amateur, Gill has local knowledge of the Hamilton layout and will be seeking to claim victories in both the Stroke and Match Play Championships in the same year; in these circumstances Gill is sure to be a force to reckon with.
Photo – Anthony Powter
