Canadian Joey Savoie has claimed medallist honours in the NSW Amateur Championship at Terrey Hills Golf and Country Club this afternoon.
The 24-year-old has fired a two-under-par 70 to go with his course-record 64 first round at Mona Vale Golf Club to finish at 10 under. In second place, three shots behind, were Castle HIll’s Jordie Garner, whose 69 was the best of the morning scores.
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Jed Morgan, runner-up in the 2018 NSW Amateur, and Lucas Higgins of Murwillumbah finished tied for third another shot back.
Savoie was never really challenged during the final round, although his playing partners, Canberra’s Josh Armstong and England’s Callan Barrow kept the pressure on all afternoon.
Armstrong had it to six under par at one stage and looked capable of pressuring the Canadian over the closing holes. However, a couple of late bogies and a triple on the 8th (his 17th) finished his quest.
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Savoie was thrilled with the achievement post-round, which he admitted was a bit of a roller coaster ride.
“I felt like it was a bit like the tale of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde.
“Yesterday was good ball striking; it felt like an easy 64. It felt like I didn’t have to work for it, but I had to work extremely hard for that 70 today," he said.
Savoie, from Quebec, is on his second trip down under and is clearly enjoying his golf despite the unfamiliar heat.
“Well you know, all of the courses are drastically different, and it is kind of hard to acclimatise to the weather.
“Sydney is different to Melbourne, and this was the first hot one for the trip. It was quite warm today.
He is looking forward to the match play rounds and has plenty of experience already under his belt. Savoie has already made four appearances in the US Amateur, as well as a growing list of international titles on his resume.
“I’ve won a tournament in Argentina, and one in New Zealand. I made the Matchplay at Riviera (in 2017) but got beaten in a playoff for the final spot last year.
Savoie is looking forward to the matchplay rounds which begin tomorrow and said the trick would be finding his lines off the tee.
It was my first round today. I didn't have a practice round and wasn’t feeling comfortable off the tee.
“If I can find that I feel you can be aggressive with some second shots.
“It’s a beautiful layout, a beautiful golf course. The wind might be a bit tricky, but I’m looking forward to the match play tomorrow.
“It’s going to be good fun.”
TOY TAKES OUT WOMEN'S STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
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England’s Emily Toy has claimed the Women’s NSW 36 hole-Stroke Play Championship after firing a three-under-par 70 at Mona Vale Golf Club this afternoon.
Toy, on her first trip down under, had six birdies and three bogeys around the tight seaside layout to win by a shot from New Zealand’s Carmen Lim and first-round leader Min A Yoon, who could only manage a three-over par 76.
A five-for-one playoff was required for the final place in the matchplay rounds, with Queensland’s Sarah Lee grabbing the final spot after holing a 20-foot putt for birdie on the first playoff hole.