Stewart's turn at the British Amateur?
BY Anthony Powter | World Amateur Mens Tour | 2008 British Amateur Championship | Preview | 15 Jun 2008
Tim Stewart is keeping out of his mind last year’s achievement of being only one of three Australians ever to play in the final of the 123 year history of the British Amateur Championship. Rather, Stewart is viewing this year’s Championship in isolation, appreciative of the depth of the extensive international field that’s assembled at Turnberry, Scotland.
Tim Stewart Audio Interview
The first stage of the British Amateur gets underway tomorrow at Turnberry and the adjacent Kintyre layout. The format involves 288 players playing two rounds of 18 holes, one to be played on each of the two courses, with the 64 lowest scores over the 36 holes and ties for 64th place, competing in the match play stage of the Championship, commencing Wednesday 18 June at Turnberry.
Eleven Australians have made the main field where, over the next two weeks, players from around the world battle for one of the most prized amateur titles. To the British Amateur Champion go the spoils, with starts in next month’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and the Masters Tournament next year.
“It’s a great feeling to be back again competing in what is one of the best amateur tournaments in the world,” said Stewart this evening, after his first practice round on the famed Turnberry layout.
“I had my first experience on the championship layout and was impressed. The course is amazing with the setup and the nature of its shape. It will certainly make for a real challenge over the Championship.”
Last year at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Stewart created history in being only one of three Australians ever to make the British Amateur final. He was denied victory by the narrowest of margins, effectively running out of holes after mounting a spirited comeback following the morning round, as American Drew Weaver claimed the prized trophy from Stewart, 2&1.
Douglas Bachli was the last Australian to claim the British Amateur Championship. He’s the only Australian to ever hold the trophy and that was in 1954 at Muirfield. Twelve years earlier in 1936, Jim Ferrier finished one short but went on to make up for it, becoming the first Australian to win a major in the 1947 USPGA Championship at Plum Hollow Country Club.
Who then of the Australians can get their place in history and secure a championship that has been so evasive?
With the breadth of Australian talent competing this week, the strongest in years making the journey to the UK, it could be any one of the Australian contingent, should they get pass the elimination stroke rounds.
All of the Australians competing at Turnberry are competent and with the match play format to determine the Champion, the Australians probably have the slightest of advantages, given the number of match play events Australians play during our season, compared to the rest of the international field.
“With 288 players and only the top 64 go to match play, the numbers are not stacked in anyone’s favor really,” remarked Stewart.
Stewart will certainly be one of serious challengers for the title, his ever expanding resume, reflective of his prodigious talent. With four major amateur titles already to his credit, including the 2006 Australian Amateur Championship and 2007 Singapore Open Amateur, as well as numerous runner-up finishes in the US, Stewart international record is impressive.
Whilst Stewart’s recent form in the UK has been, even by his own standards, a little disappointing, his record with international match play makes him a real threat, should he progress from the 36-hole stroke format unscathed.
Australia’s top ranked World amateur, Rohan Blizard is another player capable of winning this title. Blizard’s recent form in the UK has exhibited signs of brilliance, tournaments have been punctuated with low round scores, including a 69 on the final day of the Scottish Amateur and a second round 66 at the St Andrews Links Trophy. Like Stewart, if Blizard makes the match play format, his experience and skill should see him do very well, possibly even see him add to his 2007 Australian Amateur Championship, with a British Amateur trophy. I rate Blizard right out there, along with Stewart, regarding potential challenges.
Rhein Gibson is another that may cause some surprises this week. Gibson, originally from Lismore on the NSW north coast, is based at Oklahoma Christian University within the US Collegiate system and is a 2005 NAIA All-American. Gibson was Australia’s top performer last week in the St Andrews Links Trophy, finishing a creditable 5th, in a field similar to that for the British Amateur. Gibson remains confident with his game heading into the tournament.
“I’ve just finished up with my last season for Oklahoma and graduate in December and decided to return to the UK to play these events,” remarked Gibson earlier in the week.
“Overall it was a good season for me in America, we had both a strong fall and spring season and my form appears to be continuing here in the UK. At St Andrews I really thought that I had no chance to come back and surprised myself. I looking forward to going to Turnberry and to continue with some good play.”
Scott Arnold is considered by many as a type of ‘links specialist’, thriving on the variances associated with the game. Arnold won the Riversdale Cup in March and has one international victory already to his credit, the 2006 Hong Kong Open Amateur.
Arnold ultimately wants to be professionally based in Europe and is eager for another international victory. I particularly like his chances to do well this week, and solid performances already in the UK with top twenty finishes at the Scottish Amateur and St Andrews Links, reflects his game is with him. It would not surprise me at all if he was able to secure the Championship title.
Michael Raseta, the 2008 NSW Amateur Champion, is another that may cause some surprises this week. Raseta drives the ball well and is accustom to exposed conditions, having played a lot of his golf at Mona Vale Golf Club, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Raseta has vast international experience, having previously toured both the US and the UK. If his game is on, he’ll certainly be worth following.
Since his win in the 2007 Federal Amateur, Victoria’s Daniel Beckman has experienced some issues with his game. Beckmann finished T3 at the Tasmanian Open, however, the remainder of the Australian season was a little disappointing for the 20-year-old. Beckmann certainly has the ability to score low, as shown during the 2007 Portsea Open Amateur, where he closed with 65 and a nine shot victory. It will be interesting to see how one of Australia’s most promising young guns plays, against this truly international field.
Leighton Lyle is another fresh face Australian playing Turnberry this week. Winner of the 2007 Victorian State Amateur and Dunes Medal, Lyle was knocked out in the first round of the 2008 Australian Amateur, by England’s Dale Whitnell, yet shows excellent promise. Lyle missed the cut at the Scottish Amateur and is yet to play into contention in the UK, however, if he’s able to progress through to the match play format, Lyle will be worth following.
The Australian contingent is then rounded off with Tom Prowse, Ben Loughrey and Shaun Malone.
We have a number of players capable of claiming the title, in particular Stewart, Blizard, Gibson and Arnold. At the same time, do not be surprised to see the other Australians do well. Either way, sentimental favorite has to be Tim Stewart. It would be nice to see him return to a Championship and claim a title, that was so close, yet so far from him last year.
