The Amateur final – Not bad for a boy from Aberdeen.
Dylan Perry is 36 holes away from fulfilling a lifelong dream.
The 22-year-old from the New South Wales Hunter Valley has powered his way into the final of the 2017 Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s after two thrilling wins overnight.
Perry played steadily all day, defeating Noway's Jarle Kaldestad Volden one-up in a quarterfinal battle for the ages, the lead to either player was never more than one hole. He was never headed in the afternoon semi-final, taking the lead on the fourth hole before eliminating Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti 3&2.
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“I am overwhelmed, that’s for sure,” Perry said."I’ve been patient all day, all week."
"I played OK this morning, then just solid in the afternoon in tricky wind conditions."
"To get into the final tomorrow, I'm stoked."
Perry’s path in golf began after his parents bought him his first set of five clubs as a 14-year old. Amongst other pursuits, he was a talented junior dirt-bike rider who had raced since the age of 7. A serious accident, however, put an and to that budding career and since then golf has been his passion.
“I had a spiral break of my right leg from the knee to the ankle, and I snapped the growth plate in half,” he explained. “I played cricket for a couple of years, but after that, it has been all golf.”
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Perry has played golf at several clubs along the way, beginning at Aberdeen, then Muswellbrook, Long Reef in Sydney, and his current home club, the Vintage in the Hunter. Recently,he recently moved to the Gold Coast after accepting a job with a builder.
Perry who won this year’s Riversdale Cup in March is also the current Queensland and Victorian Amateur Champion. He is the first Australian to reach the Amateur Championship final since Bryden Macpherson lifted the trophy at Hillside in 2011. Only one other Aussie has lifted the trophy, Doug Balchi in 1954. Tim Stewart was runner-up in 2007, while the legendary Jim Ferrier also finished runner-up back in 1936.
History now beckons for the Hunter Valley product, with starts in the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, the 2018 US Open, and of course, an invitation to drive down Magnolia Lane next April for The Masters awaiting the winner. Perry was calm when asked about his chances.
“Anyone is going to be nervous playing in The Amateur Championship final, but I am just going to play like I have been all week. I’ll be patient and just enjoy it. It’s an experience in itself.”
“I’ve exceeded my expectations from last year’s performance, so I’ll go out tomorrow and do what I’ve done all week and see what happens,” He smiled.
Perry's oppenent in tonight's 36-hole final will be England's Harry Ellis. Action gets underway at 8.30 am local time ( 5.30 pm AEST).