Some nice moments, but not for long enough was the upshot for the Australian contingent at the Pacific Coast Amateur in San Francisco today.
Record-setting Californian Isaiah Salinda did just enough to hang on for victory a day after blowing the tournament apart with a breath-taking course-record 62 at the famous Olympic Club, and his 12-under total was too much for the Aussies to peg back.
Tough-as-nails West Australian Ben Ferguson was the most consistent of the Aussies in one of the key lead-up events to next month’s US Amateur and was rewarded as the leading player among his countrymen at T14.
Ferguson closed with a birdie to shoot an even-par 71 for his final round and finish at two under overall, three clear of Victorian Zach Murray who had one of the day’s best rounds with a 69 for a +1 total.
A day after five birdies, Melbourne’s Matias Sanchez couldn’t find one in his closing 73 and finished next best at +3.
And after putting himself in contention at halfway, Min Woo Lee, a member at Royal Fremantle, fell away with a horror mid-round run en route to a 79 and a +7 total he shared with fellow West Aussie Kiran Day (76) and Shae Wools-Cobb (73), one clear of his fellow Queenslander Charlie Dann (78).
Melbourne’s David Micheluzzi (75 for +9) and Dylan Perry (73 for +13) couldn’t find their rhythm for much of the week.