Wodonga teenager Zac Murray today became the youngest player to win the Australian Master the Amateurs Championship. A final round 71, his 4th sub-par round for the week, saw the 17 year old victorious by two shots at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
Steady golf, conservative off the tee, has been a feature of his play all week. And in the cooler conditions on slower greens, that’s was how things went again today, save for a couple of bogeys late in his round. He described as huge his win over this field that included some of the world’s very best amateurs.
He is the 18th winner of this tournament, the highest ranked amateur championship in Australia. It has been a stepping off point for many professional careers and Zac says it is great to think that his name is now alongside such champions including 2006 Australian Master of the Amateurs Green Jacket winner, Jason Day. However he insists he has no immediate plans to follow in their footsteps: he says he likes school and is looking forward to completing year twelve with his good mates this year.
Queenslander Cory Crawford had rounds of 69 71 69 and 69 to finish in second place. He shared 5th place in this event last year and also took out the Malaysian Amateur Championship. The best performed international, American Bryson DeChambeau finished third today with Melbourne golfer Ben Eccles who set this tournament alight with his opening round of 66. Briton Paul Howard’s 66 today gave him a share of 4th place with Chinese Taipei’s Chieh-Po Lee.
The round of the tournament came yesterday when 19 year old Sydney golfer Cameron Davis fired off a 63 to equal the course record set in 1956 by now 83 year old Tom Crow who is still a member at Royal Melbourne.
The shot of the tournament came in today’s final round: a-hole-in one on the 7th by New South Wales golfer Travis Smyth who was playing The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the very first time.
Tournament Director Peter Mann used today’s “Green Jacket” presentation to Zach Murray to announce details of “The Ashes” trophy to be part of the Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship in 2016.
“We are proud of this fine addition to our event. The best Australian and best British amateurs will already be here for the Australian Master of the Amateurs. Putting ”the Ashes” up for grabs will add more spice to the rivalry between these two great golfing nations”, Mr. Mann said.
“And Royal Melbourne Golf Club is the perfect venue. It is recognised around the world and challenges even the very best, having hosted major tournaments including the Australian Masters and the World and Presidents Cups”.
The Royal Melbourne Golf Club President Brian McPhail, announced that his Club would be proud to host the Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship for the next two years and be part of the tournament’s 20th anniversary celebration.
Story courtesy of Jim Conway