Cameron Davis, Travis Smyth, Dylan Perry and Blake Windred have overcome gale, rain, and sub-zero like temperatures to progress to the match-play rounds of the 2016 Amateur Championship overnight at Royal Porthcawl and Pyle & Kenfig Golf Courses in Wales.
Cameron Davis fared the best of the four finishing tied 6th with an even par total of 142 after two rounds. The Monash member carded a 5-over par 76 to go with his first round 5-under par 66.
Davis made a solid start to his second round with birdies on 4th and 5th holes on the Pyle & Kenfig course, however the brutal conditions caught up with him with a triple bogey on the ninth hole. A double and two bogeys on his back nine underlined how tough the conditions were.
Travis Smyth carded a 5-over par 76 at Royal Porthcawl to go with his first round 68 to finish the qualifying rounds tied 20th at 2-over par 144. Smyth fared no better than Davis. The weather took its toll as he managed only two birdies for the day in the testing conditions.
“The wind was three and half clubs at least. It rained most of the day and to walk off with five over I'm not fussed at all,” Smyth said. “I played awesome golf all day but the course is just brutal.” Smyth is looking forward to the knock-out rounds. “It’s going to be a lot of fun in the match play.”
Dylan Perry used his fighting spirit to grind out a score in the tough conditions, carding a 4-over par round of 75 on the Pyle & Kenfig layout to go with his even par first round of 71. Things weren't looking good for the Vintage Golf Club member when he made a terrible start with a double and two bogeys in his first three holes. Perry managed to settle down however and play some impressive golf for the remainder of the day to limit the damage to finish tied 49th.
Perry was thrilled after realising he had qualified for the match play rounds. in store for him in the first round is his NSW team mate Trav Smyth. “I’m over the moon. The conditions were wild all day. I started terrible but got it together to finish 4-over. I hit so many good shots and holed some crucial putts,” he said.
Blake Windred posted a 7-over par 78 at Royal Porthcawl to go with his first round 68, finishing in tied 49th position alongside Perry. The 18-year-old had a roller coaster start after dropping six shots in the first eight holes. A birdie on the ninth settled his nerves and he managed to remain in control of his game to qualify for the match play rounds.
“I’m so happy to get through,” a relieved Windred said. “I just tried to embrace it but the conditions were brutal. I hit some great shots but just had to grind it out in the end.” “I’ve worked so hard and feel I have improved in conditions like these, so I’m going to take some confidence into the match play now,” Windred smiled.