Scotland's Doherty captures Australian Amateur title
IN: News | Australian Mens Amateur | Australian Amateur Championship (2003) | Wrap | 26 Mar 2003
Scotland's Jack Doherty accounted for New Zealander and good friend Bradley Iles earlier today at the 2003 Australian Amateur Championships in Perth, Western Australia. The 20-year-old Scotsman dominated the 36-hole Match Play final at the Mount Lawley Golf Club and when the 31st and 32nd holes were halved; the match went to Doherty 5 and 4.
His victory was the first by a Scottish player in the 109-year history of the event and he is only the second British winner behind England's Warren Bennett back in 1994.
Doherty's began his assault early in the round with wins coming at eight of the opening nine holes and, despite a late comeback attempt from Iles, he still led by six holes at the halfway mark and never looked back.
Doherty will now return home to prepare for the Walker Cup team in July where he will be part of the Great Britain team after qualifying with his win at the 2002 Welsh Amateur Championship.
The Scotsman hinted that he may turn professional following the Walker Cup plus he is likely to return to Australia later this year to play in the Australian Open in late November. His win this week gives him a three-year exemption to play the National tournament despite his status as either an amateur or a professional.
Iles continues what has been a superb season of golf with three rounds of 63 under his belt and a second placing at the recent Riversdale Cup where he fired rounds of 63,69,73 and 66 to finish just four strokes adrift of Kurt Barnes.
The Wellington-based amateur is only the fifth New Zealander to make the finals and the first Kiwi player since Mahal Pearce in 1999. He also would have been only the second New Zealander to win the Australian Amateur title after Michael Campbell in 1992.
Photo Credit - Robert Ferris
