Impressive Griffin wins Keperra Bowl
BY Anthony Powter | Queensland Mens Tour | 2008 Keperra Bowl | Round Four | 16 May 2008
Matthew Griffin showed some rare emotion this afternoon after a critical four-footer putt made the cup on the final hole at Keperra Country Club. A “Tiger” like fist pump was Griffin’s immediate reaction to his one stroke victory at 15-under-par, to claim his second National Selection Trial title and further enhance his chances for selection in the Eisenhower team.
Since Wednesday’s second round, Griffin had held the lead and entered the final round knowing that he would have to play aggressively to claim the title.
“This is a course where anyone close can shoot a 64 or 63 and press for the title,” remarked Griffin after the third round.
Those words could not have been truer, as final round charges came thick and fast this afternoon. Ray Beaufils stormed home with an impressive 8-under par 64, to jump the leaderboard and join Ryan McCarthy, who fired a 66, to finish joint runners-up to Griffin.
It’s not that Griffin played a bad final round, he fired a very respectable 68.
“When that putt when in on 18, it was such a huge relief as it was not an easy line,” remarked Griffin, the 2008 Mandurah Easter Amateur Champion.
“This win is huge and finishes off a great Australian season for me. With a bit of luck I’ll secure the top ranking spot after today and better my chances for the Eisenhower team. I knew it was close there at the end and that I had to make the putt on 18 to win.”
The end result at this week’s Keperra Bowl was a leaderboard full of promising young Australian talent, with Jason Scrivener and Jordan Sherratt finishing T4 at 11-under-par, whilst Matt Jager recorded another top-ten result.
Ryan McCarthy, 18, only arrived at Keperra the day before the tournament started, after winning his State title on Sunday.
“I was coming off a bit of a high after winning the Tasmania Amateur,” said McCarthy, who made the top 32 at the Australian Amateur last month in Adelaide.
“Today I felt that I had my chances, especially on eighteen. It’s just great to finish well in these events.”
Ray Beaufils was another, like McCarthy who had chances during today’s final round.
“That’s golf, you can shoot low and make a move to challenge after having a ordinary earlier round,” said Beaufils, whose second round 76 was his only blemish this week.
“I’ve moved to Melbourne to work on my game and I’ve made a few changes with my game. It’s all starting to deliver some results.”
It is fitting that the last major Amateur tournament in Australia was claimed by one of Australia’s most consistent players this season.
Matthew Griffin has secured six top-ten finishes from seven starts and today’s win at Keperra will more than likely push him inside a top-ten world ranking.
America awaits, and so does undoubtedly a professional career.
