Date: January 20, 2009
Author:

Anderson rolls home at Yarra Yarra

The 2009 NEC Master of the Amateurs Championship came down to an All American shoot-out between 22 year old Mark Anderson and 20 year old Rickie Fowler and it took three extra play-off holes to decide who would be awarded the Green Jacket. Anderson, from South Carolina, started the day three shots off the pace and two behind Fowler. It was wonderful entertainment for the big gallery enjoying the near perfect conditions at Yarra Yarra Golf Club. Anderson reeled off birdies on 16, 17 and 18 and then birdied the first two play-off holes before he calmly sank a six metre putt for an eagle and the Championship. A student at the University of South Carolina, Anderson won the US Players Amateur last year and is currently ranked number 50 in the world. It was his more highly ranked countryman, Rickie Fowler, currently the number 2 amateur in the world, who really set this tournament alight. A catch-me-if-you-can 65 on the first day left all in his wake including tour pros in the field for the NEC Master of the Amateurs Srixon AM-Pro, the opening round of this event. Fowler, Anderson and Yarra Yarra&aposs own Daniel Beckmann were involved in a titanic struggle over most of today&aposs final round. After the16th Fowler led byone stroke, but on the 17th Anderson&aposs six metre birdie putt saw him grab a share of the lead. Beckmann&aposs hopes of joining a play-off disappeared when he just missed his putt on the 18th. Then it was back down the 18th as the two Americans went birdie for birdie for the first two play-off holes. On both holes Anderson found himself in the same bunker on the left front edge of the green. The third play-off hole saw Fowler put his second shot just off the back of the green about 10-metres from the pin. Anderson who had come from the rough on the right side of the fairway put his second shot on the back of the green leaving a six metre putt. Fowler&aposs third shot left him half a metre from the pin. But Anderson&aposs putt for eagle was true. text courtesy: MasteroftheAmateurs.com.au