Cameron Davis is revered as wanting the big moment – and they’ll rarely come much bigger.
Davis, 21, rolled in a curling 7m putt on the 17th hole in the final match to give New South Wales the men’s Interstate Series championship for the first time since 2012 – and a moment he’ll never forget.
Davis carried on with another conceded birdie up the last, his 2-up triumph over a gallant Anthony Quayle giving NSW a 4.5-3.5 win over Queensland in an epic final at The Brisbane Golf Club.
And while his teammates played integral roles in putting the Blues into a winning position, it will be Davis’ putt that lives long in Blues’ supporters’ memories.
“I thought it would break left to right, but it didn’t look like it would as the ball rolled, but then it dropped in on pretty much the last role … what an unbelievable feeling,” Davis said.
“It’s been a crazy week and to finish it off like that is a great memory to have.
His teammates and NSW officials roared on the fringe of the green, knowing the minimum halved match that guaranteed was enough to reach the magical four points required from eight matches as the top qualifier.
“That roar just reminds you (that) you’re part of a team and these boys have been great all week and to have them behind me is something I’ll never forget
“Everything we have tried to do we’ve done perfectly — preparation, recovery, everything. This week with the boys was unbelievable – it’s great when a plan like that comes together so perfectly.”
Earlier, Kevin Yuan and Blake Windred put the Blues into top gear with wins in the No.8 and No.6 matches respectively.
And Dylan Perry came from nowhere to win the last two holes in the No.7 match against Doug Klein and nab a half-point that looked as though it might be critical.
Queensland then hit back with three consecutive wins to pull clear momentarily with successes to Shae Wools-Cobb, Mitch Smith and Charles Pilon.
Travis Smyth then drew NSW back level with a 2&1 win over Blake Proverbs in a quality clash at No.2, leaving the top match to determine history.
When Quayle put his approach to 17 within 4m, it looked as though the hosts would thrill the generous home gallery.
But Davis simply wouldn’t be denied.
It was probably the third great escape the 2015 Australian Amateur champion had made in a week full of Houdini moments for the unbeaten New South Wales squad who played with a purpose throughout.
While emerging Queenslander Charlie Dann was the only player to win a medal for being unbeaten through the series, the New South Wales men always seemed to be able to rise when the moment demanded it.
The depth of the NSW squad enabled coach John Serhan to slide his players into different positions based on form and opponents – and they all stood up in doing so.
And in the big moments, the attitude of Davis, captain Smyth and Harrison Endycott at the top of the line-up was perfectly summed up by the hero of the final.
“If there’s a gap, I’ll give it a go. We said to take that on this week and all the boys did their bit when it mattered.
“It was just a week when it definitely came off.”
The NSW team today was Yuan, Dylan Perry, Windred, Austin Bautista, Daniel Gale, Endycott, Smyth and Davis.
It caps a great month for the Blues who also had their girls’ team salute in Tasmania, where the boys’ team shared the national junior title with South Australia.
Queensland won the women’s championship at Royal Queensland yesterday.