Griffin, Younger lead Australian Amateur
IN: News | Australian Mens Amateur | Australian Amateur Championship (2008) | Round One | by Anthony Powter | 14 Apr 2008
Members of The Victorian Golf Club this evening will be in high spirits following the opening round efforts by Matthew Griffin and Josh Younger at the Australian Amateur in Adelaide.
Younger and Griffin are both members of The Victorian Golf Club Major Pennant team and fired opening rounds of 4-under-par 68 to be the first-round leaders.
The pair, who opened their campaign at The Grange Golf Club, have a single shot lead from five other players, including Michael Foster, Alex Peade and Englishman Dale Whitnell, who all are at 3-under-par.
“It was difficult out there in the afternoon with the freshening wind,” remarked Matt Griffin, winner of last month’s Mandurah Easter Amateur.
“Obviously it’s the start you want, but there’s plenty of golf to be played this week and you just have to keep your mind on each round. I’m looking forward to playing Royal Adelaide tomorrow, as it’s such a great layout and a classic course to play.”
The first two rounds alternate between Royal Adelaide and The Grange Golf Club, with the leading 100 players and ties making the thirty-six hole cut tomorrow evening. They’ll contest for the Australian Amateur Medal and a place at this year’s Australian Open at Royal Sydney.
The leading 32 players at the completion of the four-round stroke play then face elimination match play, to determine the titleholder for the Australian Amateur.
“There’s really two competitions here this week,” remarked Josh Younger, who was runner-up to Michael Foster at the US Rice Planters tournament last year.
“You obviously try to win both the Medal and the championship, but either is an achievement. I just played consistent golf out there today, nothing special, just consistent, and that’s what wins these big tournaments simply because there’s a lot of golf to be played.”
Rohan Blizard, the defending champion, opened with a 2-over-par 75, to be T50th and well inside the top 100 cut mark. Blizard is with a number of other top Australian players at 2-over, including Daniel Beckmann and Scott Arnold, whilst 2006 Champion, Tim Stewart is at 3-over-par and T83.
The best of the internationals is England’s Dale Whitnell, who was runner-up to Daniel Beckmann at last year’s Federal Amateur, at 3-under-par, followed by team mate Neil Chaudhuri, Ireland’s Paul Cutler and Edouard Dubois from France, who are all at 2-under-par and T8.
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