Young Master Top Amateur
Wodonga teenager Zac Murray today became the youngest player to win the Australian Master the Amateurs Championship. A final round 71, his 4th sub-par round for the week, saw the 17 year old victorious by two shots at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
Steady golf, conservative off the tee, has been a feature of his play all week. And in the cooler conditions on slower greens, that’s was how things went again today, save for a couple of bogeys late in his round. He described as huge his win over this field that included some of the world’s very best amateurs. He is the 18th winner of this tournament, the highest ranked amateur championship in Australia. It has been a stepping off point for many professional careers and Zac says it is great to think that his name is now alongside such champions including 2006 Australian Master of the Amateurs Green Jacket winner, Jason Day. However he insists he has no immediate plans to follow in their footsteps: he says he likes school and is looking forward to completing year twelve with his good mates this year.
Queenslander Cory Crawford had rounds of 69 71 69 and 69 to finish in second place. He shared 5th place in this event last year and also took out the Malaysian Amateur Championship. The best performed international, American Bryson DeChambeau finished third today with Melbourne golfer Ben Eccles who set this tournament alight with his opening round of 66. Briton Paul Howard’s 66 today gave him a share of 4th place with Chinese Taipei’s Chieh-Po Lee.
The round of the tournament came yesterday when 19 year old Sydney golfer Cameron Davis fired off a 63 to equal the course record set in 1956 by now 83 year old Tom Crow who is still a member at Royal Melbourne.
The shot of the tournament came in today’s final round: a-hole-in one on the 7th by New South Wales golfer Travis Smyth who was playing The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the very first time.
Tournament Director Peter Mann used today’s “Green Jacket” presentation to Zach Murray to announce details of “The Ashes” trophy to be part of the Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship in 2016.
“We are proud of this fine addition to our event. The best Australian and best British amateurs will already be here for the Australian Master of the Amateurs. Putting ”the Ashes” up for grabs will add more spice to the rivalry between these two great golfing nations”, Mr. Mann said.
“And Royal Melbourne Golf Club is the perfect venue. It is recognised around the world and challenges even the very best, having hosted major tournaments including the Australian Masters and the World and Presidents Cups”.
The Royal Melbourne Golf Club President Brian McPhail, announced that his Club would be proud to host the Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship for the next two years and be part of the tournament’s 20th anniversary celebration.
For a wrap up of all tournament news and scores go to masteroftheamateurs.com.au and click on tournament update at the top of the page or visit Australian Master of the Amateurs Facebook page.
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9/1/15 Update from Dean Kinney – High Performance Manager, Golf NSW
Boys hung tough today in cold wet and windy conditions with all the pins very tucked. How about Travis with hole in one on the 7th. I didn't see it but he said it was a "pure" shot.
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Record Equalling Round
On a day of amazing golf at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, a course record that’s stood for 59 years has been equalled and a 17 year old Wodonga schoolboy has skipped away to a two shot lead going into tomorrow’s final round of this truly world class tournament, the Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship.
19 year old Sydney golfer Cameron Davis who won the Victorian Amateur last year, said everything just felt right about his round today … and why wouldn’t it?
He’d just fired off eight birdies and an eagle; a bogey on the 4th his only blemish, on his way to a round of 63 which equals a record that’s stood since 1956.
The man who set that record for the West Course, former Royal Melbourne Golf Club member Tom Crow said he was delighted for Cameron and passed on his warmest congratulations. The founder of the Cobra company, Mr Crow who is now 83, said “putting the Royal Melbourne greens you need to be “damn” good, so Cameron must be some sort of golfer”.
Cameron goes into tomorrow’s final round of the Championship with a share of sixth place, seven shots behind the leader.
That spot is held by Wodonga teenager Zach Murray who’s round of 67 gives him a two shot break on the rest of the field. The 17 year old who goes into year 12 this year said he’d improved from the first two rounds because he’d been “smarter off the tees”… and he’s feeling good about tomorrow!
Zach will be teeing off with his really good mate Frazer Droop from Yarrawonga who had a round of 68. The best performed international so far is 21 year old American Bryson DeChambeau whose round of 66 leaves him five shots off the lead.
Perhaps the hard luck story of the day came from Queenslander Jake McLeod who had a double bogey on the last but still had a final round of 66 …what might have been!
After a drama packed day, everything is set for a final round for top quality golf to decide the winner of the Green Jacket.
Play starts at 8am and admission is free … for all tournament news and scores go to masteroftheamateurs.com.au and click on tournament update at the top of the page or visit Australian Master of the Amateurs Facebook page.
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7/1/15 Update from Dean Kinney – High Performance Manager, Golf NSW
Mixed results today. Tougher today with northerly wind. So different to what they are all used to. Most of them have not played Royal Mel;bourne or anything like this before. Travis Smyth said "I have played well for 2 days and I'm 8 over", you just can't lack concentration or miss a spot on any shot. Good score tomorrow and they will be back in it. Just started hailing down here after 38 degree day.
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Steady play sees Torquay golfer Ben Eccles with a three shot lead after an opening round 66 at the 2015 Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship at Royal Melbourne Golf Club. The 20 year old, who won the New South Wales Amateur Championship in 2013, got off to a good start with an eagle on the par five second hole. Looking back on his impressive tournament opening, Eccles said “It’s really nice to know that my best stands up against some of the best players in the world”.
Queenslander Corey Crawford, Zach Murray and Lucas Herbert from Melbourne and the UK’s Nick Marsh, the best performed international in today’s first round, all finished the day on 69.
American David Snyder, Takashi Ogiso from Japan and China’s Tianlang Guan with Australians Taylor McDonald and Fidel Concepcion all had rounds of 70 while world number four Will Zalatoris and fellow American Brian Campbell are among a group of ten players a further shot back.
After today’s near perfect conditions, a very hot day is forecast for tomorrow prompting organisers to call an early tee time (7:00 am).
Admission to the four days is free … and for all tournament news and scores go to masteroftheamateurs.com.au and click on tournament update at the top of the page or visit Australian Master of the Amateurs Facebook page.