Date: January 18, 2014
Author: Christian Puccini / Golf SA

Oh so close for Murdaca & Lee in AusAm Match Play Semi’s

Anthony Murdaca and father/caddie Domenic assessing options for his 3rd shot on the 18th Anthony Murdaca held off New South Welshman Cameron Davis, who caddied for Murdaca in the final round of last year s Australian Open, 4&3 in this morning quarter final, to set up a match against New Zealand s Tae Koh. Koh led by one hole early, before Murdaca squared the contest on the 3rd. Koh then pushed ahead to lead by two through nine, holding lead until Murdaca squared the match again on the 14th hole. Koh then moved 1up with a birdie on the 16th, before Murdaca hit back to claim the 17th and square the match heading down the 18th. Under pressure and with a large gallery following, both players hit perfect drives to the middle of the fairway. Up first Murdaca attempted to repeat his 3rd round approach shot where he flushed it from 220mtrs to the middle of the green, but this time miscued the approach, hard left. Seizing the opportunity, Koh played a solid shot to the right side of the fairway, leaving a short, trouble free pitch to the green. With Murdaca effectively having no shot to the green with his third, he attempted a high risk shot but found trouble again. After hacking at his fourth and then fifth which slide across the green, Murdaca conceded the match to Koh after Koh played his third close to the pin. Koh now faces Western Australian Curtis Luck in the Australian Amateur Match Play final from 8.15am Sunday with a place in the Australian Open at stake along with the honour of being National Champion.
Glenelg&aposs Jenny Lee in action against Davidson After disposing of World Number 2 Su-Hyun Oh from Victoria 4&3 in this morning s Australian Amateur Quarters Finals, Glenelg s Jenny Lee spent the afternoon battling 15 year old Queenslander Karis Davidson in an absorbing Semi Final. After Lee birdied the 5th to go 1up, Davidson hit back with an eagle on the 6th to square the match. Lee then edged ahead, before Davidson repeated the feat with another eagle on the 8th to tie the contest. Lee then pushed ahead to be 2 up through 12holes, before Davidson fought back to win holes 13 and 14. On the 16th hole Davidson chipped in for birdie, to push ahead for the first time of the day and put the pressure right back on Lee. Lee hit straight back winning the 17th hole to square the contest heading down the 18th. Both the 18th and 19th were also squared forcing the contest to the 20th. After both players hit middle of the fairway with their drives, Lee s approach ended up in the front bunker while Davidson s was short just off the green. Lee was forced to play a safe bunker shot to the left edge of the green while Davidson s chip rolled to within a foot. The ask to hole the putt was too much for Lee, resulting in a fine win to Davidson, who only moved to Australia from Edinburgh five years ago. Davidson now faces world number 5 Minjee Lee in Sundays 36 hole final from 8am. MEN S MATCH PLAY RESULTS SEMI FINALS – Saturday 18 January PM 1.00pm – Anthony Murdaca (SA) v Tae Koh (NZL) Koh wins 1 up 1.15pm – Curtis Luck (WA) v Todd Sinnott (VIC) Luck wins 1 up QUARTER FINALS – Saturday 18 January AM 8.10am Anthony Murdaca (SA) v Cameron Davis (NSW) Murdaca wins 4&3 8.20am Max Buckley (USA) v Tae Koh (NZL) Koh 2 wins 3&1 8.30am David Snyder (USA) v Curtis Luck (WA) Luck wins 2 up 8.40am Zach Murray (VIC) v Todd Sinnott (VIC) Sinnott wins 1up WOMEN S MATCH PLAY RESULTS SEMI FINALS – Saturday 18 January PM 12.30m – Karis Davidson (QLD) v Jenny Lee (SA) Davidson wins on 20th 12.45pm – Minjee Lee (WA) v Luna Sobron (ESP) Lee wins 2&1 QUARTER FINALS – Saturday 18 January AM 7.30am – Shelly Shin (NSW) v Luna Sobron (ESP) Sobron wins 23rd 7.40am – Minjee Lee (WA) v Jayde Panos (WA) Lee wins 6&5 7.50am – Su-Hyun Oh (VIC) v Jenny Lee (SA) Lee wins 4&3 8.00am – Chantelle Cassidy (NZL) v Karis Davidson (QLD) Davidson wins 5&3 Match Play Results/Draw Men Match Play Results/Draw Women Follow the #AusAm on twitter!