Higginbottom (16) beats Fleetwood (19)

in New South Wales final

FROM THE NEW SOUTH WALES GOLF ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
Sixteen-year-old Jake Higginbottom (The Australian Golf Club) has won the 2010 New South Wales Amateur Championship, played at The Royal Sydney Golf Club.
Current NSW Junior Champion, Higginbottom played strongly over the 36-hole final, defeating 19-year-old Englishman Tommy Fleeetwood (Formby Hall, Lancashire) by 3 and 2.
Both players were consistent early, with Higginbottom just one up after 18 holes. Some strong play in the next nine holes saw Higginbottom get out to five up, with nine holes remaining. Through these holes, Jake played 10 holes in six under par!
Despite being five down with just five holes to play, Fleetwood (winner of the Scottish open amateur stroke play championship at Murcar Linkis last year) continued to fight back, winning the next two holes.
However it was the youngster who held his composure with a chip in at the 34th hole to secure victory, completing a brilliant six days of golf.
Graeme Phillipson, NSW Golf Association General Manager – Golf Programs and Services was excited at the result. “It really is an incredible achievement for such a young golfer. It’s great to see some exciting young talent coming through the ranks of NSW Golf. Jake continues to go from strength to strength, and it’s exciting to see where he’ll be in the future”.
It has been a grueling Championship, kicking off at Newcastle and Muree Golf Clubs with over 260 players on 26-28 January, participants playing four rounds of 18 holes over the three days. The leading 32 players competed in the match play component at The Royal Sydney Golf Club from 1-3 February, with it eventually getting down to the final two – Higginbottom and Fleetwood.
At completion of play, they have both played 10 rounds over six days, which is indeed a test of skill, mental strength and endurance.
Higginbottom, pictured above with the trophy, by courtesy of the New South Wales Golf Association, will now receive entry into the 2010 British Amateur Championship (at Muirfield and North Berwick from June 14 to 19.