Date: August 24, 2015
Author: Bernie Pramberg

Bransdon wins dramatic Brookwater play-off

David Bransdon prevailed over fellow New South Wales professional Rohan Blizard after a three-hole play-off in a drama-charged final round of the Isuzu Queensland Open at Brookwater.

After Blizard birdied the 71st hole to level at 12-under, the duo made regulation pars on the 18th and then returned to the tee to determine a sudden-death winner.

In the end it was 41-year old Bransdon who hoisted the T B Hunter Cup after making a curling four metre putt as they contested the 18th for the third time in the playoff.

“My putter wasn’t behaving early in my round but ultimately it was what won it for me,’’ said Bransdon.

“Rohan played great and threw everything at me. He didn’t give anything. I had to earn it.’’

Bransdon’s experience, consistency and shot-making made him a worthy champion, but there was justifiable sympathy for the gritty Blizard who carded his third successive 67 which included a self-imposed penalty stroke called on the par-four, 12th hole.

Blizard, 31, called the penalty when he believed his ball had oscillated minutely after he removed a nearby twig. He immediately summoned a rules official and added a shot to his score on the hole.

“Golf is an honest game. If you see a ball move you call it on yourself,’’ he said. “I’d hit a bad shot off the tee and was moving a stick behind my ball when it touched a leaf and the ball kind of oscillated.’’

Blizard, who ultimately chipped-in from 25m to par the hole, admirably refused to blame the penalty for his defeat.

His 67 included consecutive eagles on the par-five 8th hole and par-four ninth to grab the outright lead at the midway stage of the round.

“Rohan really produced some fireworks before the turn with those eagles but I figured I’d just do what I needed and hit it in the fairways and on to the greens,’’ said Bransdon. “If he kept making birdies and eagles he’d win, but I wasn’t going to change from the way I’d played the golf course all week. Get aggressive at Brookwater and it will jump up and bite you.’’

Bransdon carded a closing 69 to finish tied at 12-under with Blizard (67) with a four-shot break to third-placed Kiwi Mark Brown who shot 69. The consistency of Bransdon’s game was illustrated in the 21 holes he played on Sunday (including the playoff) which comprised 17 pars and four birdies.

“The old adage in golf says patience will be rewarded,’’ he said. “Patience is normally not my forte but I hung in today and eventually the putts started to drop.’’

Bransdon revealed he first attempted to pre-qualify for the Queensland Open when he was 14-year old kid from Wauchope in country New South Wales.

“Our club pro came up for the event and suggested I come as well to get some experienced,’’ recalled Bransdon. “Hard to believe it was 27 years ago.’’

Bransdon, who now lives in Sale, Victoria, with his wife and three children, said the Open victory will be a confidence boost when he tackles the European PGA Tour q-school later this year.

Queenslander Jake McLeod was leading amateur after a fine 68 gave him a share of fourth place at 7-under with Adam Blyth (Qld) and Aaron Townsend (NSW).

McLeod’s next major amateur event will be the Keperra Bowl but he said he intended to turn professional later this year.

“I’m very happy with the way I played, especially after a bit of a shaky opening round,’’ he said.

McLeod had a roller-coaster opening nine holes which included five birdies and two bogeys.

Ed Stedman (NSW) was outright sixth after a 69 to be six-under, a stroke ahead of Quenslander michael Wright (68) and Michael Sim (73).

Mathew Millar holed-out for a spectacular eagle in the par-four 18th to finish with a 67 to be four-under for the tournament.

Millar’s hybrid approach from 180m went beyond the pin but trickled back into the hole.

“It was a pretty good way to finish,’’ he said. “But the 77 on Saturday killed my chances. This is the most difficult course we play on the Australasian Tour.’’

LEADERBOARD

12-under: D Bransdon (NSW, won on 3rd playoff hole), R Blizard (NSW)
8-under: M Brown (NZ)
7-under: A Blyth (Qld), J McLeod (am Qld), A Townsend (NSW)
6-under: E Stedman (NSW)
5-under: M Sim (WA), M Wright (Qld)