Top seed Jeffrey Guan has cruised through the opening two rounds of the NSW Amateur Championship, but local young gun Riley Millers is still in the hunt.
Guan accounted for NSW Golf Club’s Ali Rachid in a rugged affair during the morning matches, before accounting for Royal Sydney’s Ed Proctor this afternoon, 3 -2.
Guan will face The Vintage’s Corey Lambin in tomorrow morning’s quarter-final after Lambs’ come from behind heroics this afternoon.
14-year-old sensation Riley Millers will face the daunting task of the 1999 NSW Amateur Champion and former Japanese Touring professional Chris Campbell in the second quarter-final.
Millers claimed Mudgee tyro Mark Hale’s scalp in today’s morning match, 3-2, before surviving a close one against Monash Country Club’s’ Zac Telfer in the afternoon, winning one up.
Millers, a member at Magenta, appeared unphased by his achievements in the tournament to date.
“It feels pretty good. It’s good to play at my home club, and it felt pretty good to get the wins.”
“I felt a bit of pressure at the end.”
Asked about his results today and his expectations heading into the quarter-finals, the quietly spoken 14-year-old said it was all about giving it his best effort.
“I’ll try and play well, do as best as I can. I’ll get some good sleep, some good dinner tonight,” Millers smiled.
Tomorrow’s other quarter-finals will also promise to be entertaining affairs, with Pennant Hills Andrew Richards taking on Weiliang Wang of St. Michael’s, while Avondale’s Jye Pickin will meet the impressive Thomas Heaton of The Australian.
Heaton, who accounted for Monash’s Jordan Mackay in the morning flight 4 -3 also claimed the scalp of one of his state junior teammates in the afternoon round of 16, Lachie Jones, 2 -1.
For Jye Pickin, the match play section could not have got off to a better start. The former NSW state rep, who has only recently returned from a brief stint in college in the United States, hammered Coffs Harbour’s Illy Flanagan 8-7, before claiming a tight one against Long Reef’s Chun-Ta Wu 2 -1.
Rematch beckoning in women’s Am
Kelsey Bennett will face Belinda Ji, while Grace Kim will take on Stefanie Hall in tomorrow’s quarter-final matches in the women’s NSW Amateur Championship at Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club.
Top seed Bennett made short work of a courageous Madison Woodley winning 5-4 while defending champ Grace Kim accounted for Bonnie Doon’s Alena Oppenheimer 3 -2.
In a mini upset, Yerin Kim took down NSW Representative Sophie Yip 5 -4. Ki will face Avondale’s June Song who held on for a 3-2 win over Glenmore’s Chaewwon lee.
Ashleigh Arnold kept her chances alive with a 3 -2 win over teenager Ella Scaysbrook of Newcastle, while Claire shin accounted for Michelle Di Natale 4 -3 in the remaining match.
Comeback kid Corey books quarter-final Berth
Corey Lamb has pulled off a comeback of epic proportions to advance to the NSW Amateur’s quarter-finals at Magenta Shores this afternoon.
Three down with four to play, Lamb reeled off three straight pars in the trying conditions to get back to all square on the last, and when his opponent Jones Comerford couldn’t save par on the last, Lamb had pulled off a remarkable come from behind victory.
“He chipped in for birdie on the 14th and I thought it was all over here, three down with four to go,” Lamb grinned. “But I said to myself, just hang in there and see what happens and try and make it to the last.”
And make it he did. Lamb made a solid par on the par-three 15th, and when Comerford three-putted, the pendulum began to swing.
Another par on 16th with Comerford unable to match it after hitting into the scrub meant the swing was on to The Vintage golfer.
Comerford compounded the loss with a plugged lie in the bunker on the 17th. Miraculously, Lamb was back to all square and standing on the 18th tee.
Lamb was surprised by the comeback but said it was a familiar position to where he found himself in last year’s amateur against Queensland’s Jed Morgan.
“I was four down against Jed last year and got it back to extra holes,” he added.
Lamb’s opponent in tomorrow’s final will be the top seed and former state junior teammate Jeffrey Guan. He said the key to victory would be keeping his level of consistency high.
“We’ve done a bit of stuff together over the years, played a few rounds.
“Hit greens and make putts, try to do the same thing, just play solid.
“If he plays better, he wins.”
Weather Gods having their say
The weather gods are having their say at Magenta Shores, with a fierce southerly whipping across the course, making conditions treacherous.
Jeffrey Guan had a battle against his morning opponent, NSW GC rep Ali Rashid. A couple of late wins on the 16 & 17th getting the top seed over the line.
The women’s top seed Kelsey Bennett accounted for Concord’s Madison Woodley, 5 & 4, while Yerin Kim has claimed an upset of sorts, knocking out Sophie Yip 5 & 4.
The men’s round of 16 is already underway. The Afternoon conditions are still testing so some interesting results may be thrown up.
7.30am: Match play underway at Magenta
It’s business time at the NSW Amateur, with the match play rounds underway at Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club.
After two days of heat and wind, the players will have to contend with a completely different beast today, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a few rain squalls and a fierce southerly with winds topping 55 to 60 km/h.
Top seed in the men’s Jeffrey Guan is up against NSW GC’s Ali Rashid in the first match out at 7.00am, while Kelsey Bennett, the women’s strokeplay champion faces Concord’s Madison Woodley, with the pair teeing off at 9.08am.