Macpherson fires record 63 at Dunes
BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2008 Dunes Medal | Round Three | 04 Dec 2008
Bryden Macpherson fired a sizzling course record 9-under-par 63 to extend his lead in The Dune Medal by eight strokes from nearest rival fellow Victorian Luke Bleumink, who is at 9-under-par.
Macpherson is currently at 17-under-par and set to claim the 14-under-par tournament record set by Alistair Presnell in 2003.
“I’m just hitting it in all the right places,” said Macpherson this evening.
“I played a lot of district golf in this area so feel comfortable out there, but The Dunes is not a style of course that you can prepare for. I’m wrapped with claiming the course record.”
Scott Arnold remains in outright 3rd position at 8-under-par followed by Tom Bond at 6-under-par.
Macpherson shot a course record equalling 8-under-par 64 in his opening round, to gain a four stroke lead over the rest of the field at the National Trial event currently being played at The Dunes Golf Club on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
“Tomorrow I’ll just go out there and not focus on external factors and play my game. I’m looking forward to it and I’m feeling that I’m now starting to get use to these National Trial Events.”
Back in April it was Norway’s Anders Kristiansen that brought Macpherson’s Australian Amateur tournament to an end, after Macpherson had qualified for the match play section. Kristiansen would go onto win the Australian Amateur Championship, however, Macpherson views that event as a defining period in his transition from junior to major amateur golf.
“My game different to back at the Australian Amateur,” he says.
“For a start my putting is better. On Tuesday I had 23 putts and today 25, so that’s were the score is coming.”
There appears to be no stopping the 18-year-old Macpherson, who last June qualified for the match play rounds at the 2008 US Junior Championship. He’s certainly not getting ahead of himself and remains poised for his maiden amateur championship victory.
“I’m swinging well and obviously getting the ball in the hole. I’ll play the same way that I’ve been doing all week and hopefully will get this one.”
Since its inception in 1999, The Dunes Medal has evolved into one of the main amateur events on the Australian golfing calendar. Former winners include Asian Tour player Rick Kulacz (2006), US Tour player Jason Day (2005), Adam Bland (2001), whilst Alistair Presnell holds the tournament record at 14-under-par.
