MEDIA RELEASE: Federal Golf Club The windy and cool conditions continued to be a factor during the final round of the Federal Amateur Open. The &apostrying&apos weather and testing course has made the well laid out Federal course a challenge for the best Australian and overseas amateur golfers. However, the skill of the players has been highlighted on numerous occasions over the past four days and the event has been a great success. The winner of the prestigious event, which is also a Golf Australia selection trial, is Victorian state squad representative Daniel Beckmann, who had a final round of 70 to have a total score of 282 and 6 under par after 4 rounds. Beckmann continued to display the consistency that provide him with a 5 shot lead going into the final round and he said that “I continued to play error free golf which was not easy in some of the conditions that the golfers have faced over the past four days.” “I am very happy to have won my first Australian major event and it is fantastic that I will now receive an invitation to compete in the 2008 British Amateur Open.” Beckmann joins previous recent winners of the Open including Rick Kulacz (2006), Andrew Martin (2005), Gavin Flint (2004), Nick Flanagan (2003) and Andrew McKenzie (2002). Most of the former winners have now had the opportunity to turn professional and have played a variety of golfing circuits around the world. The winner receives an invitation to play in the 2008 British Amateur Open and the champion was presented with a superb cut glass trophy and a $1000 Qantas travel voucher. Second was English golfer Dale Whitnell, who had the best round of the day (69) to finish on 286, followed by fellow Englishman Matthew Baldwin (3rd) who had a 70 to finish on 292 with South Australian Andre Na (4th). Fifth place went to Brendan Smith on 293. The winner of the team&aposs event was Dale Whitnell and Matt Baldwin from England. Championship director, Col Tolano said “The event was once again a great success and I thank all the players, staff and volunteers who contributed to the running of the event. “We look forward to seeing the players return for 2008.” Federal Golf Club General Manager, Chris Hume said that “Beckmann was a worthy winner having played very consistent golf, in at times very difficult conditions over the four rounds. We hope that all the players enjoyed the event and we look forward to hosting this important Golf Australia sanctioned championship next year.”
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