The healthy rivalry between Blake Windred and David Micheluzzi resumed on Sunday at the ISPS Handa Vic Open and the New South Welshman came out on top on his way to low amateur honours.
Having cemented himself as one of Australia’s top talents in recent months, Windred’s brilliant form continued in the final round at 13th Beach, carding a one under 71 to finish at 11 under for the tournament.
Windred finished in a share of 12th on the leaderboard, a week after winning the Avondale Medal in Sydney which saw him soar to World No. 13.
Windred’s rounds of 70, 67, 69 and 71 saw him eclipse Micheluzzi by five strokes, the pair clearly Australia’s top two male amateurs on both form and world rankings.
Micheluzzi, currently the World No. 5, began the week with rounds of 67 and 68 and at one stage was well inside the top 10 on the standings, but couldn’t reproduce that form on the weekend on his way to scores of 74 and 73.
“I love the atmosphere in professional golf, especially this tournament. This has definitely been my biggest professional event,” said Windred.
“To beat a few of the boys, it’s definitely a cherry on top! It gives me a lot of confidence in the coming months and for when I do need to turn pro.”
Since earning a place in the field at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Singapore in October, Windred has finished third at the NSW Open, third at the Australian Master of the Amateurs and reached the quarter finals of the Australian Amateur Championship.
In the women’s event, recent Australian Amateur champion Amy Hong continued her brilliant run to start 2019, the Korean taking out the women’s low amateur honours.
A Saturday 79 meant Hong didn’t take to the Beach Course in the final round but the low amateur crown was already secured following opening rounds of 68 and 72.
Hong finished at two over for the tournament, two strokes ahead of Sydney’s Steph Kyriacou.
The St Michael’s member burst out of the blocks with an opening four under 69 but couldn’t sustain that pace on her debut at the ISPS Handa Vic Open.