Aussie duo leads Players Amateur
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2008 Players Amateur | Round One | 11 Jul 2008
Matthew Griffin and Josh Younger are first-round leaders at the Players Amateur in South Carolina, along with American John Tyler Griffin, following rounds of 5-under-par 65 to be a stroke ahead of fellow Australian, Brett Rankin, who sits in T4 position after a 4-under-par 66.
Matt Jager had an opening 3-under-par 67, to be T10, followed by Daniel Beckmann at 2-under-par and T14, to be the best of the Australasian contingent.
Matt Griffin Audio Interview
Griffin continues to play stellar golf since arriving in the US, building on what was a successful Australian summer with seven top-10 finishes from eight starts, including wins at the Mandurah Easter Amateur and Keperra Bowl.
Last week Griffin won the Rice Planters Amateur, equalling the tournament 17-under-par record set by fellow Australian Aron Price in 2004. His opening 65 at the Players, another perfect start for one of the world’s most inform amateurs.
“It’s always good to get off to such a great start in these tournament,” remarked Griffin after his round.
“There are opportunities out there if you are driving the ball well. Lately driving has been a strong suit and I’m really looking forward this week to going low.”
The world number seven is appreciative of the depth and quality of the field at the Players, the 13th ranked world amateur event.
“You cannot afford to miss opportunities as the fields are so strong and someone else will simply pass you or shoot a low number if you rack-up a number. My strategy for the remainder of the rounds is simply to focus on fairways and greens, not what the rest of the field is doing.”
Josh Younger’s capacity to secure a top US amateur title should also not be underestimated.
With a 3rd place finish at last week’s Rice Planters Amateur, his game in the US this season appears to be going from strength to strength.
The 2007 Mandurah Easter Amateur champion has the style of game for the East Course at Belfair, as Younger is considered one of the best iron players on tour and should be able to attack the shortened layout with crisp iron play.
The timing of Younger and Griffin in reaching some form is impeccable as the bigger US amateur tournaments like the Western, Porter Cup and Southern, are all fast approaching. That’s not taking anything away from the Players Amateur, as the 87 player field for this year’s event boasts five of the world’s top-10 amateur golfers and 18 of the top-50 players.
Jason Scrivener fired an opening 1-under-par to join three other Australians, including Michael Foster, Scott Arnold and Tim Stewart at in T21 position.
“You just have to keep the approach under the hole to give yourself chances,” says Stewart. “There’s a lot more golf left in this tournament and there are plenty of opportunities to make a move. That’s the beauty of this layout, the risk/reward is there for you.”
