Golf Australia National Squad member, Matt Griffin, has held on to win his first US amateur title at the 36th Rice Planters Amateur in South Carolina, USA. Griffin finished strongly with a final round 3-under-par 69 to finish one stroke ahead of American Mike Stern, at 16-under-par. Fellow Golf Australia National Squad member, Josh Younger, also had a fantastic tournament finishing third at 15-under-par, after a final round 67. This was a special win for Griffin, not just because it was his first on US soil, but also because he came so close to winning last year when he came 3rd after missing the play-off by a single shot. Australians have dominated the Rice Planters tournament in recent years with Griffin&aposs victory marking the fifth Australian title in eight years. Griffin&aposs form coming into the tournament was very solid and he got off to a strong start with an opening round of 67. He followed up his impressive 1st round with an even better day out in round 2, finishing with a 65. Round 3 was a tougher day, shooting a 70, however was still able to hold the lead going into the final day. Griffin played the 4th round with stable mate and traveling partner Josh Younger, however it was Griffin and American Mike Stern who battled it out all day. Griffin birdied 15 and 16 after being all tied up with Stern at the 14th. A small falter at the 17th, where Griffin scored a bogey made the final hole very crucial, however the Australian steadied at the right moment shooting a par and taking the tournament title. Peter Knight, Golf Australia Director of National Elite Development said, “Australians have enjoyed playing the Rice Planters over the past five years. Aron Price (2004), Tristan Lambert (2005) and Michael Foster (2007) have all won the event. In last year s event Michael Foster defeated Josh Younger in a play-off with Matt Griffin third. Josh performed well again this year by finishing third behind Matt Griffin. “Matt is certainly on a hot streak having won three of the past five events he has contested. Let s hope it&aposs a harbinger for the upcoming events that he is playing; Players Amateur, Porter Cup and Western Amateur”.