Jager tops rain delayed Southern Amateur
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2008 Southern Amateur Championship | Round Two | 18 Jul 2008
Second round play at the Southern Amateur at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, Florida, has again been suspended due to heavy rain with Australian Matt Jager firing a second round 5-under-par 67 to be 8-under-par and joint leader with three Americans.
Jager got his tournament off to a flying start in the opening round with an ace on the 138 metre 13th hole to eventually finished this morning with a 3-under-par 69. Despite the rain interruptions with the two opening rounds, he’s confident he’ll be able to continue with his good form.
Matt Jager Audio Interview
“My game is strong at the moment and I’m hitting the ball well,” said Jager after the second round.
“It’s a little frustrating with the delays and hard to keep your momentum going. I managed a few birdies earlier on today, then had to wait a few hours in the clubhouse before play resumed. When I got back out there, all the feel had gone and it was difficult to get back into the groove, but my game is certainly there.”
Since his T4 finish at the Sahalee Amateur in Seattle, Jager continues to improve in the US. He’s confident and relaxed with his capacity to play under pressure should the opportunity arise again to challenge for a major US title.
“I learnt a lot last week at the Players Amateur,” says Jager, who was runner-up in the tournament.
It was Jager’s best international performance and his ranking climbed from 39th in the world to 23rd. It was the lift he was looking for in his game, having only recently graduated from world junior golf.
“Hopefully this week I can play back into a similar situation. To get another chance to have a crack at a title would be great, as I feel I can go one better should the opportunity arise.”
Nearly half the field will have to complete their second round early Friday due to the delays, as Florida continues to experience horrific wet weather. First round leaders Hudson Swafford, Tim McKenney and Tim Schaetzel, all at 7-under-par, had barely started their second round before play was suspended.
Tim Stewart and Justin Roach finished their opening rounds in T4 position at 4-under-par. The pair managed only to complete three holes in their second round and are currently at 5-under-par in T10 position
The tournament is scheduled to end Saturday with the winner earning an exemption to play in the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational next spring in Orlando.
Should both Jager and Stewart keep the momentum going and overcome the weather disruptions, we’re likely to see some movement from two of Australia’s most promising amateurs. Jager continues to show the form and confidence to seriously challenge for the tournament.
Play will resume early tomorrow before the cut of low 66 scorers an ties, currently projected to be at plus-2, is determined. This should see Michael Foster, Matthew Giles, Scott Arnold, Grant Scott and Danny Lee also around for the weekend. Ray Beaufils will need to make a move, he’s currently at 4-over-par after six in his second round, whilst Jason Scrivener will miss the cut after finishing at 10-over-par.
