Lee, Batibasaga in QLD Amateur finals
IN: News | Queensland Mens | Queensland Amateur Championship (2007) | by Anthony Powter | 10 May 2007
It’s fitting the top two qualifiers in the Queensland Amateur Championship, Kevin Lee and Rika Batibasaga, are to meet in tomorrow’s final. In both cases, it not only represents an opportunity to claim their state title, but also secure their first major amateur championship.
Lee and Batibasaga both know the Indooroopilly layout intimately, having played Pennants for Indooroopilly and whilst Lee now plays out of Oxley, Batibasaga remains a member. Despite this association, they have not played each other in match play. Speaking with both this afternoon, they plan to approach tomorrow’s final differently.
Batibasaga intents to be aggressive, especially on the back nine holes at Indooroopilly, which despite recent modifications he sees the holes as being open for attacking.
“I feel pretty good and I’m not going to change anything tomorrow. I’ll pretty much just attack the par 5’s, that’s my game. It’s my home club; I’ll love it. The back nine is new, every chance that I’ve had to play them, I got on there and loved it and that’s where I feel most confident.”
“My putting all week, especially inside 10 feet, has kept me going. My form of late has not been that good. The last couple of weeks have been my best chance to play well and finish with something. The second place in the medal play in this tournament with 14 under was a great booster.”
In last year’s Federal Amateur, Batibasaga pushed Rick Kulacz to the wire, after storming into contention on the final day with a blend of aggressive and accurate driving. Kulacz held on, but Baribasaga attracted plenty of attention with his “go for it” stye and distinctive wrap around swing.
“I played terrible at the Australian Amateur. I came back to Queensland and practiced and practiced. It’s only been in the last month that I felt my game has started to get back.”
Upon returning back home Batibasaga played the local vardon events, skipping the national selections like the Mandurah Eastern Amateur, to focus upon practicing and finding some form.
Victory in the Middle Ridge Easter Amateur, a local QLD averages event played in Toowomba, restored some confidence and created the platform leading into the Queensland Amateur Medal.
Batibasaga feels he is now ready to take one of his biggest challenges, playing for his state amateur title tomorrow.
“The last couple of weeks have been really great. I can’t wait to get out there tomorrow. I haven’t played against Kevin in match play. We’ve been in squads together, like Queensland juniors, but never played each other. I plan to get up tomorrow and 'grip it and rip it’.”
If there’s one aspect that has treated Kevin Lee well at this Queensland Amateur championship, it’s his driver. A recent change to a Nike Sumo Tour driver has seen him hit more fairways with a return of accuracy, which previously he felt was missing.
“I’ve been driving the ball well this week, like my driving from the tee is was really well and I’ve not missed many fairways this week. I’m very confident with driving this course.”
“I’ve fixed my driver five days before the Queensland Medal and it works well. I’m helped with equipment from Nike with the right shaft and driver. I gave it a hit and it works just perfectly. I can start to hit it and that’s when I played really well last week to win the medal.”
Lee, like Batibasaga, recently has felt that his played in patches, with no real consistency to his game. There was an 11th place finish at the NEC Amateur Masters, followed with a 15th place finish at the Australian Amateur and last month Lee finished 22nd at the SAGA Invitational. This has chanced for both players this week.
Tomorrow’s final provides them both the opportunity to secure their maiden amateur major title. Lee also will have an added motivating factor.
Last year Jason Day won both the Medal and the Championship before turning professional: Lee is aiming to follow Day’s achievements.
Photo – Anthony Powter
