Date: October 23, 2016
Author: Bernie Pramberg

Amateur Micheluzzi dazzles with seven straight birdies

Victorian amateur David Micheluzzi provided early fireworks on the final day of the Isuzu Queensland Open when he made seven successive birdies on his opening eight holes.

Micheluzzi hit-off on the 10th and could do nothing wrong as he played his front nine holes in 29.

Although he dropped three shots on his homeward trip to card a closing four-under 66, it the 20-year old’s string of birdies that had the galleries buzzing.

The 20-year old is a stablemate of Brett Coletta at the Victorian Institute of Sport and they share the same coach, Marty Joyce.

Micheluzzi said he lipped out for birdie with a 40ft putt on his opening hole (par-4, 10th) which gave him a good feel of the greens.

“I birdied the next (par-3), was on for two on the 12th with an eagle putt, made birdies on 13 and thought ‘let’s just see what happens from here’,” he said.

“I made some crazy putts out there.”

Micheluzzi, who shot rounds of 71-74-72 leading into today’s final round, finished at three-over for the tournament.

He said Coletta’s strong performance this week was no surprise to him.

“Brett probably hits it better than anyone I’ve ever seen and is putting well. He has been in good form.

“What he has done here has not surprised me.”

Kiwi pro Ben Campbell also finished strongly with a 66 to be one-under par for the 72 holes.

Campbell, 25, spent two years out of the game with chest and shoulder problems and his finish here is a confidence booster going into the New South Wales Open.