Matt Griffin all set at Mandurah
IN: News | Australian Mens Amateur | Mandurah Easter Amateur Championship (2008) | Round Two | by Anthony Powter | 23 Mar 2008
Matt Griffin is reflective of the quintessential amateur journeyman. The 24-year-old Melbournian quietly goes about his business combining a deathly precision as well as consistency with his game, to post over the last eighteen months some of the best performances in Australian amateur golf.
Griffin continued this form during the second round of the Mandurah Easter Amateur, firing a 3-under-par 69, to be at 4-under-par, taking a two-stroke advantage over John Cassidy, Jason Scrivener and Tim Stewart into tomorrow’s final 36-hole round.
Consistency is a key attribute of the Griffin repertoire, reflective of solid performances, both in Australia, Europe and America. Add a major Australian title, and it will become the complete package.
“Only this afternoon I paused and thought, ‘I’ve never led a National Selection trial event before, yet I’ve been so close in so many’, and realised where I was,” remarked Griffin, the 2006 Victorian State Amateur Medal champion.
Griffin has been in contention in numerous amateur titles during the last eighteen months. His notable performances include, two top ten finishes in America at the Rice Planters and Eastern Amateur, a runners-up finish at the Jockey Club Rasario in Argentina, 4th at the Dunes Medal last November, another runner-up at the Lake Macquarie Amateur in January and T6 at the Riversdale Cup last month.
For Griffin, a win at Mandurah would not only be seen as well deserved, but more importantly, rightfully due.
“It’s great to be leading going into the final round of a main event and I’m just going to enjoy the experience and let things unfold,” were Griffin’s comments this evening.
“Mandurah suits my game and plays to my strengths. There’s still plenty of golf and some quality guys behind me. It will certainly be interesting tomorrow.”
Make no mistake, Griffin, behind his gentlemanly like exterior, has that killer instinct. A product of built up near misses and the frustrations of being close, yet so far. He’ll certainly draw on these experiences tomorrow in pursuit of his first maiden major amateur title.
What’s unfolded at Mandurah over this Easter weekend is a potent combination of Australia’s best amateur talent fighting it out, both with the established and new.
The tournament is wide open, with the imposing thought simmering in the background amongst many players that Eisenhower positions are up for grabs and no way yet determined. The top ranked and the ‘fringe’ players are acutely aware the importance of solid performances at these events and the resulting the impact it has on their selections possibilities.
With the likes of Jason Scrivener, with the low round 68 for the day, Matt Jager and Michael Raseta, all pressuring seasoned journeymen, by the names of Stewart, Griffin, Younger and Arnold, this tournament has developed in to wonderful stuff. It’s reflective of the depth of Australian amateur golf.
Throw into the equation the threat of the 2007 Rice Planters Champion, Michael Foster, currently six behind Griffin and there’s a potent blend of young raw young talent and experience joining the fight at Mandurah, making for arguably one of the best finishes to a major Australian amateur title this season.
As for Griffin, the Madurah Easter Amateur title is there for the taking, if he’s able to hold on. It would be a worthy victory for one of the gentlemen of Australian Amateur golf. The problem for Griffin; there are the young guys of Scrivener and Jager nipping at his heels also eager for that maiden victory.
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