Date: August 24, 2015
Author: Bernie Pramberg

McLeod top amateur in Queensland

Jake McLeod closed with a four-under 68 to be leading amateur at the Isuzu Queensland Open and finished in a tie for third place overall.

The 21-year old Royal Queensland member finished on seven-under for the 72 holes, five strokes adrift of eventual winner David Bransdon.

McLeod is an exciting prospect, as evidenced by his 67 on Saturday, and he produced more action in Sunday’s final round when he notched five birdies and two bogeys in a roller-coaster opening eight holes.

“I started well with successive birdies and then three-putted the third,’’ he said. “I held it together really nicely although I didn’t make many putts coming home.’’

McLeod described his opening round 74 on Thursday as “scrappy” but was delighted with subsequent rounds of 72-67-68.

“It was a good finish and I couldn’t be happier,’’ he said.

McLeod, who won the 2012 Queensland Amateur Championship, is a member of the QAS squad and the state men’s team.

“I still have a couple of amateur events to play in a month or so before I prepare for qualifying schools on the Australasian and Asian Tours,’’ he said.

McLeod was easily the best of the three amateurs to make the cut finishing 13 shots in front of Zach Murray (Victoria) and 18 strokes ahead of Travis Smyth (NSW).