Blake Windred from The Australian Golf Club in NSW has dominated the strokeplay rounds of the SA Amateur to claim the 2017 SA Medal by eight strokes ahead of fellow New South Welshman Andrew Richards.
Windred who is the low handicapper, finished at 8-under par with rounds of 66,70 (136) after 36 holes of stroke play at Blackwood Golf Club.
Teeing off the 10th in round one, Windred made bogey on his opening hole, before going on to make two birdies and eagle on both par fives to race to five-under. Another birdie on his penultimate hole saw him sign for a 66.
Holding a four-stroke lead over Queenslander Dylan Parish (70), 19-year-old Windred cruised to the medal making another four birdies to fire a 2-under round of 70, the low round of the day yet again.
Richards from Pennant Hills Golf Club qualified in second place at even par, with rounds of 71,73 (144) while Jordan Ayre from Royal Canberra finished third 74,70 (146).
Sam Inglis from Kooyonga was the top local qualifier in eighth position at 6-over with rounds of 79-71 (150). Mathew Lisk also finished at 6-over (78,72) to qualify ninth while Colin Coleman from The Grange (73,77) qualified 11th.
Andrew Nakone Jnr 79-73 (+8) qualified 14th while last week’s SA Country Champion Jak Carter 76,77 (+9) qualified in 18th position.
All up, 15 South Australian’s (21 in 2016) made it through to the Match Play top 32.
The South Australian Men’s Amateur Championship Match Play rounds continue at Blackwood Golf Club commencing at 7.30am on Wednesday 27 September.
To view the stroke play LEADERBOARD – CLICK HERE
Women’s Stroke Play rounds
16-year-old Grace Kim from Avondale Golf Club in NSW is the leading qualifier after the stroke play rounds of the South Australian Women’s Amateur Championships.
Leading after an opening round 2-under 72, Kim followed up with a 3-over 77 to finish at 1-over par after 36 holes.
Kim made five birdies in each round and although making four bogeys in round two held a big enough lead to claim the medal.
Kim the reigning Australian Girls Junior Champion, finished three strokes ahead of Jo Flaherty from Commonwealth (VIC) 76,76 (+4) while third qualifier was 2014 champion Kono Matsumoto (Victoria GC) 75,77 (+4).
2015 Champion Stephanie Bunque from Victoria GC 83,77 (+12) and defending champion Alexandra Hilliard 81,82 (+15) qualified fourth and fifth respectively,
Six South Australian women made it through to the Match Play top 16. Caitlin Peirce from The Vines of Reynella was the leading local with rounds of 80,85 (+17).
The South Australian Women’s Amateur Championship Match Play rounds follow the men’s field teeing off from 8.26am at Blackwood Golf Club on Wednesday 27 September.
To view the Strokeplay LEADERBOARD – CLICK HERE
For the Championship Match Play DRAW – CLICK HERE for the tournament event page on the Golf SA website.