Now Willett wins Aussie

open amateur title

FROM AUSTRALIAN GOLF UNION WEBSITE

Englishman Daniel Willett, pictured right with the trophy, has claimed the Srixon Australian Amateur Stroke Play by one shot from the Australian pair Josh Younger and Grant Scott after an exciting final round at Royal Adelaide Golf Club.
Walker Cup player Willett, the R&A ranked world number one player and winner of the Spanish open amateur title a few weeks ago, fired a final round three-under 70 to become the first Englishman to win the title and in doing so, clinch the number one seed position for the match play, starting on Friday.
Beginning the day four shots behind Younger, Willett started with birdies on the first and third holes to start building momentum. Back-to-back bogeys on seven and eight halted the English charge but he steadied his nerves to play the back nine in two-under despite the challengers nipping at his heels.

Willett finished on six-under-par 285 with rounds of 73, 71, 71 and 70.
Younger's title chase got off to a disappointing start as the Victorian recorded just two pars in his opening eight holes among a string of bogeys. The AIS/Golf Australia National Squad member made amends on the back nine with a three-under, but it wasn't quite enough to atone for his early misses.
Grant Scott was six strokes back after round three but put together a final round charge to send a scare through the world number one. Scott birdied all four of the back nine par fours to post an equal tournament-best round of 69 but in the end, the New South Welshman had to settle for equal second place.
The focus remains on Royal Adelaide for the match play component of the Srixon Australian Amateur Championships beginning on Friday morning. The top 32 men and women qualifiers (totals of 297 and better) from the stroke play will battle it out in sudden death until just two are left at the conclusion of play on Sunday.
Defending men's champion Rohan Blizard qualified safely after a final round 72 and former champion Tim Stewart will also be looking to repeat after overcoming early hiccups to also post a one-under 72 and punch his match play ticket.

Colin Farquharson writes:

Former Scottish boys' match-play champion John Hempstock from Dumfries finished on 15-over-par 306 with rounds of 75, 75, 78 and 78 for a share of 80th place.

Australia-based Scot, Stephen Speirs, who has become one of the leading amateur golfers in South Australia, finished in a share of 96th place with scores of 73, 76, 83 and 77 for 18-over-par 309.
A total of 113 players played the last two rounds at Royal Adelaide Golf Club.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 291 (3 x 73, 1 x 72)

Players from Australia unless stated.

285 Daniel Willett (Eng) 73 71 71 70.

286 Josh Younger 68 73 70 75, Scott Grant 73 72 72 69.

288 Brendan Smith 76 70 71 71.

290 Matt Jager 73 72 73 72.

291 Michael Foster 69 72 76 74, Matthew Griffin 68 73 78 72, Rohan Blizard 74 69 76 72, Dale Whitnell (Eng) 69 73 76 73, Chris Woods (Eng) 72 71 74 74, Jordan Sherratt 73 70 74 74.

Other totals:

295 Neil Chaudhuri (Eng) 70 80 76 69 (jt 20th).

297 Matthew Baldwin (Eng) 75 72 74 76 (jt 27th).

MISSED CUT FOR MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

298 Shane Lowry (Ire) 75 74 74 75, Steven Uzzel (Eng) 73 77 71 77 (jt 33rd).

299 Sam Hutsby (Eng) 72 77 75 75 (jt 45th).

302 Paul Cutler (Ire) 70 77 78 77 (jt 61st).

306 John Hempstock (Sco) 75 75 78 78 (jt 80th).

309 Stephen Speirs (Sco) 73 76 83 77 (jt 96th).

312 Ben Stafford (Eng) 74 78 83 77 (jt 103 of 113).