Date: November 26, 2017
Author: Golf Australia

THE AMATEUR: Sanchez eagle seals “crazy” double

Matias Sanchez has capped a remarkable year by winning the Silver Medal as low amateur at the Emirates Australian Open.

The 19-year-old Victorian made a remarkable eagle on the last hole just minutes after a double-bogey threatened his chances.

He then watched as Takumi Kanaya's birdie putt to share the honour in the following group lipped out from short range to leave Sanchez to celebrate alone.

"It was a crazy finish – a crazy tournament actually," Sanchez said.

"I knew I had to do something up that last hole after what I did on 17, but I had no idea if it would be enough."

The Silver Medal and T15 finish at two under comes 10 months after he won the Australian Amateur championship at Melbourne's Yarra Yarra Golf Club.

"It's been a big year," said Sanchez, who has done the double ahead of some higher-profile contemporaries.

"Yeah, I'm pretty happy with that. I'm just working on my game and it's good to see it pay off in these events."

Kanaya, runner-up in the Japan Open earlier this year, finished T19 in his second time at the Australian Open and showed that he'll be a force here in years to come.

West Australian Min Woo Lee and Victorian Cameron John both closed with rounds of 70 to share 32nd at one over in total, while American Charlie Reiter closed with a 75 to finish T65 at 10 over.