Foster, Scrivener set pace at Keperra
IN: News | Queensland Mens | Keperra Bowl (2008) | Round One | by Anthony Powter | 13 May 2008
More than twenty-five players are under-par following the opening day of the Keperra Bowl, with ten players within two shots of leaders, Jason Scrivener and Michael Foster, who both opened with 6-under-par 66.
The course appears to be no challenge for Australia’s best amateurs as they literally hammered the 6,082 metre Keperra Country Club layout, in a birdie bombardment.
“It’s playing real easy,” remarked Michael Foster, runner-up at last month’s Australian Amateur and 2008 Western Australian amateur champion. “Today there was no wind and you could just bomb it out there and go in with a wedge. I’m not surprised so many are under par at all.”
Matthew Griffin, who’s been one the most consistent amateur players this summer, with six top-ten national selection trial finishes and the winner of the Mandurah Easter Amateur, agrees the Keperra layout provides easy scoring.
“There are plenty of birdies out there,” said Griffin this evening after his opening 5-under-par 67 to be tied for third place along with Michael Moore, Steve Thompson and Alex Hendrick.
“I could have had 10-under, as it was playing that easy. I left so much out there and bogeyed a few coming in, as the greens got bumpy later in the afternoon.”
They are followed by seven players at 4-under-par, including Daniel Nisbet, Ray Beaufils and a recent addition to the National squad, Brendan Smith.
Smith, from Pymble Golf Club on the upper north shore of Sydney, has burst onto the amateur scene recently, finishing T4 at Australian Amateur Medal and less than a fortnight ago, accounted for Scott Arnold during their semi-final of the Sydney Major Pennant Final.
It was Arnold’s first defeat in four seasons of Sydney Major Pennants and one of Smith’s biggest match-play victories. Smith’s current best major amateur performance is T3 at this year’s Riversdale Cup, and if current form is any indication, he should really challenge at Keperra, before returning to play top spot for Pymble at this weekend’s Sydney Major Pennant final against Moore Park.
Queensland local Ray Beaufils is another exhibiting a return to form. Beaufils made the top-16 at the Australian Amateur championship and finished runner-up at last week’s Queensland Medal to Brett Rankin.
Beaufils is yet to claim a major Australian amateur title, but has been top amateur at the Queensland PGA championship and performed well in the US. His recent achievements are pleasing, given his immense talent. Beaufils is also further motivated to reclaim his position in the National Squad, after being recently dumped by Golf Australia selectors.
There were some causalities on the opening day, with Matt Jager needing to improve on his opening 5-over-par, 77, whilst Peter Hall and Josh Younger will both be looking to move on their 4-over-par 76’s.
The 36-hole cut will be the leading 70 players and ties, which if the opening round scores are any indication, will be close to 3-over-par.
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