Kulacz, Stewart eye off British Amateur

BY Anthony Powter | World Amateur Mens Tour | 2007 British Amateur Championship | Round Four | 22 Jun 2007

Rick Kulacz and Tim Stewart made it through to the quarter-final stage of the British Amateur in Royal Lytham & St Annes on a day when two of the championship favourites, Lloyd Saltman and Jamie Moul, departed.

Kulacz accounted for Germany’s Florian Fritsch, 2&1 in the third round giving him the momentum to dispose of Scotsman, Mark Kerr 2&1,in the fourth round encounter to remain in the championship.

Tim Stewart went to the wire in his fourth round match against Gary Boyd, after been 3 down through 12 holes, to secure his place in the quarter final with a 1 up victory. Earlier in the third round, Stewart defeated Ben Evans 3&2.

Kulacz and Stewart were the only Australians to progress to the next stage after Jamie Moul edged Rohan Blizard out of the championship with a 3&1 win. Moul then left the tournament after Ross Kellett defeated the world number 2 in the 4th round. Andrew Dodt was unable to get his game going during the 3rd round, loosing to France’s Kerry Le Sayer, 5&4.

With Moul and Saltman as well as leading qualifier David Horsey out, the British Amateur has taken on a whole new perspective and the championship is now open for the taking.

It’s Kulacz’s first British Amateur and he’s feeling confident about his game, especially his ability to minimise mistakes around the tight Royal Lytham & St Annes layout, which the NSW Open champion sees as vital for remaining in the championship.

“The course is tight in some areas, but it is a real thinkers course for sure. You can hit irons off some tees and get it in play, but if you take driver and spray it a little or even hit it just of line, you’re in thick hay,” said Kulacz

“You really have to think about what’s best for you around here. I’ve managed to minimise my mistakes so far and that’s kept me in.”

Kulacz, ranked the 37th world amateur, will meet Jason Shufflebotham from Wales in tomorrow’s quarterfinal. Shufflebotham the 476th world amateur, plays out of Prestatyn Golf Club in Northern Wales with a +2 handicap and this week accounted for the top qualifier, David Horsey in the 3rd round.

You’ll expect Kulacz with the way his played in major events this season in Australia, like in the NSW Open and the Australian Open, will have the upper hand tomorrow against Shufflebotham. Kulacz, however, is reserved about his chances this week.

“I know the courses will be playing tough, but I don’t mind that and I’m guessing we will be battling against some bad weather at some stage or another as well, but that’s the nature of this championship and links. Anything is possible.”

Tim Stewart showed the class and determination that makes him one of the best match play amateurs in the world in his fourth round match against Garry Boyd. Stewart will meet Spain’s Jorge Campillo, the 116th world ranked amateur in tomorrow’s quarter-final.

Campillo is based in America playing out of the Indiana University in major US collegiate events. Campillo returns to Europe regularly to train at the Blume Centre, an elite training facility for Spain’s top amateurs. He finished 13th in the 2005 European Amateur and is a member of the Spanish national team, having competed in the world junior teams championship.

Stewart was still coming to terms with his fight back this evening, feeling relieved, but at the same time confident his game was on the right track.

“The second match was the toughest so far,” Stewart commented. “I was either 1 or 2 down all the way after losing the first and then finally got the match back to all square on the 16th tee. I lost 16 to a birdie and then birdied 17 and 18 to win 1 up.”

“I am very much looking forward to tomorrow. This is my second British Amateur and best performance so far. The match tomorrow should be a really good test for me and I’ll just keep to my game plan of trying to hit fairways and greens.”

With many of the world’s top line players now out of the British Amateur and four of the eight remaining players being international, the door is open for a foreign victory. With two Australian players of the calibre of Kulacz and Stewart on the opposite side of the draw, there’s potential by this time tomorrow evening they’ll be scheduled to meet in Saturday’s final. Lets hope so.