Date: April 16, 2007
Author: Alistair Hogg

Aussies top NZ Amateur foursomes

By Alistair Hogg Australia has once against dominated the New Zealand Amateur Foursomes Championship with Justin Roach and Grant Scott claiming the 2007 title in Hamilton yesterday. The pair shot a remarkable six-under par 29 through the back nine of their opening round to set up the four stroke win ahead of countrymen Andrew Dodt and Michael Foster. It was the first time the pair had played together, but they gelled instantly shooting a seven-under 65 in the morning. They backed it up with a 71 in the afternoon which included a run of four birdies in the final seven holes to all but seal the title. Their winning score of 136 was the second lowest in the event&aposs history, just behind the mark set by Australians Jarrod Lyle and Michael Sim three years ago. Dodt and Foster shot 140 while Queenslander Blake McGrory and Dean Harvey of Christchurch were equal-third with an aggregate of 141. They were joined by the Kiwi pairings of Adam Church and Sean Kells as well as brothers Sean and Blair Riordan of Tasman. The winning pair found it hard to find consistency early, but they made their charge from the par-five tenth when Scott chipped in for eagle. That was the spark required as birdies followed at 12, 14 and 15 before a barnstorming finish saw them home to collect the silverware. Final scores of the 2007 New Zealand Amateur Foursomes 136: Justin Roach & Grant Scott (Aus) 65 71 140: Andrew Dodt and Michael Foster (Aus) 73 67 141: Dean Harvey (NZ) & Blake McGrory (Aus) 73 68, Adam Church & Sean Kells (NZ) 70 71, Sean Riordan & Blair Riordan (NZ) 71 70 142: Danny Lee & Mark Smith (NZ) 68 74, James Gill & Andrew Green (NZ) 73 69, George Kinghorn & Jared Pender (NZ) 71 71 144: Willie Moore & Brad Stuart (NZ) 73 71 145: Andrew McKechnie & Mark Boe (NZ) 71 74. 146: Chan Young Chung & Andrew Henare (NZ) 73 73 147: Leighton James & Troy Ropiha (NZ) 75 72, Michael Moore & Tom Prowse (Aus) 75 72, Ben Guilford & Kevin Smith (NZ) 69 78