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SCORES
MEN – The Grange GC (East Course)
WOMEN – Glenelg GC
Victoria has cashed in on a good break to skip clear early at the top of the men’s Interstate Series table.
The defending champion emerged victorious 5-2 after a tight tussle with New South Wales in ideal conditions at The Grange this afternoon, staying unbeaten after a 7-0 win over the Northern Territory in the morning session.
But the Big V’s bonus came from an unlikely series of events earlier in the day when Tasmania stunned the fancied Queensland team with a halved contest.
Also in the morning, the new-look New South Wales team did its old foe an unscripted favour by playing to another halved contest with Western Australia, leaving the Vics a half-point clear after day one.
“It’s been a good day,” No.1 David Micheluzzi said after he outpointed the impressive Blake Windred 2&1 in a key match.
“We have had great results at the bottom of the order and at the top, too. So the boys have done well today … and hope we can keep going through the week.”
While Victorian skipper Zach Murray held out Josh Armstrong 3&2 in the No.2 clash, the Blues were impressive at No.3 and No.4 with both Nathan Barbieri and Jordie Garner victorious in their first appearance in the state’s senior colours.
Garner rode a hot putter to a 4&3 win over Kyle Michel, while Barbieri and former Australian Amateur champion Matias Sanchez enthralled with a pulsating battle throughout before the young New South Welshman held sway 1-up as the Victorian’s putt teetered agonisingly short on the final green.
But Blake Collyer, Lukas Michel and Will Heffernan held steady in matches 5-7 to ensure Victoria slept peacefully.
WA hit back hard against the Northern Territory, moving to second on points differential with a 6-1 victory. The NT got its first point with a 2-up win for Alex Brennan over Cooper Geddes at No.6, but the WA men were too strong overall.
Home state South Australia pushed hard early against Queensland, but in the end the depth of the visitors proved critical.
Young Glenelg star Jack Buchanan made a great senior debut for his state with a classy 2&1 win over Dylan Gardner, but Louis Dobbelaar immediately squared the ledger with an imperious five-birdie blitz to end his match with Frank Vucic to square the ledger.
From there, the Maroons cranked out four more wins, including a 2-up triumph for Dylan Perry to cap his first day in new colours, to emerge 5.5-1.5 winners.
The second of four days of men’s competition will be at The Grange again tomorrow.