American Harman cruises to Porter Cup win
IN: News | US Mens Amateur | Porter Cup (2007) | Round Four | by Anthony Powter | 29 Jul 2007
Brain Harman cruised to victory at the 49th Porter Cup, smashing the tournament record with a four-day total of 258, 22-under par – eight strokes better than Casey Wittenberg’s 14 under from 2003. Harman also tied the record for largest margin of victory, finishing nine shots ahead of former college team mate Chris Kirk.
Andrew Dodt finished the best Australian at T9, after a final round 66, elevating the Australian Amateur Stroke Play champion eleven places from the third round to secure his best finish in America this tour.
Dodt’s 66 was the second best round of the day and he heads to Chicago with Rick Kulacz, Aaron Pike and Rohan Blizard for Monday’s US Amateur qualifying event. Dodt’s strong finish this week has certainly provided the momentum to make the US Amateur, however he remains reserved as to his chances of playing in San Francisco.
“I had a week off last week and spent some time chilling out and watching the Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston. It was nice to have a break and I came this week to Niagara Falls feeling my game was on,” remarked Dodt.
“Earlier in the week during my practice round, I felt the course was playing a little easier than in previous years, as it was dryer and the fairways were firm and running and the rough.”
Whilst Dodt was pleased how well he drove the ball, it’s his putting that gives him the most confidence moving into tomorrow’s US Amateur qualifying.
“I hit my driver well all week and there were some holes where you could blast the driver, but as always, it came down to how well I putted and it worked this week. If I keep putting the way I am, I feel I’ll have a chance tomorrow at the US qualifying, but let’s just take one tournament at a time.”
This week’s Porter Cup was a tournament within a tournament, with the Americans keen to attract the attention of Walker Cup selectors.
Harman on Wednesday was playing down his chances of making the US team and moving the focus to winning the Porter Cup against a world class field that included five of the top ten R&A world ranked amateurs.
The 20-year-old then did everything right. He opened with the best score for the first round with a 64, and closed with the lowest score of the final round, a 5-under 65.
Harman added the Porter Cup to a resume that has been steadily growing since he was a junior. He won the 2003 US Junior Amateur, was twice named Rolex Player of the Year by the American Junior Golf Association in 2003 and 2004, joining Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Tracey Phillips and in 2005, he was the youngest golfer ever to play in the Walker Cup.
The resounding win may likely have earned Harman a return trip to the Walker Cup in Ireland in September.
Harman will now wait to hear if he has been chosen for the US Walker Cup team. In 2005, Harman helped the USA beat Great Britain and Ireland when it was last played in Wheaton, America.
The USGA is expected to name seven or eight players to the team following the Western Amateur next week, with final selections being made after the US Amateur, 20-26 August, at Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Harman was a borderline selection early this summer, so he joined the Porter Cup field and following his efforts he not only secured the tournament, but gained the attention of those who count and his timing could not have been better.
