St. Michael’s Golf Club team mates, Kelsey Bennett and Harrison Crowe have cruised to victory in the finals of the Victorian Amateur Championship at Peninsula- Kingswood today.
Bennett, the top seed, was never headed in her match again two seed, Metropolitan’s Jeneath Wong, winning 3/2, while Crowe successfully defending his 2020 crown again South Australian Jack Buchanan with a 2/1 result.
Bennett was thrilled with the win, her fourth for the year.
“It was close all day Jeneath is a solid player.
“I holed a putt from like 20 foot on 14 for birdie which put me 2 up. That was huge, I was happy with that one.”
The win caps a remarkable run in 2021 for Bennet, despite the restrictions most have endured through COVID. After claiming the Tasmanian Open crown, the NT Amateur title and her thrilling runners-up finish in the Women’s Asia Pacific Amateur in Abu Dhabi last month, Bennett said it was nice to cap of her year with a solid win.
“I didn’t feel like I struck the ball great this week, but I chipped really well and putting got better as the matches went on.
“I am very happy with the year I’ve had that’s for sure, I’m really looking forward to the busy summer ahead and hopefully get some more victories,” she smiled.
For Crowe, the win was sweet especially with the limited opportunities brought on by the COVID crisis.
It was a super tough match against Buch today, there wasn’t many mistakes,” a relieved Crowe said after his win.
“I lost 3 in a row and was one down through 11, but then quickly bounced back, won 12 and made birdie in 13 to get back in front.
Crowe admitted the butterflies in his stomach were doing their bit late in the round, but after hitting the lead lat he said the focus returned.
“It was quite a nervy few holes down the stretch and I three putted the 15th for a half, but stepping up on 17 I felt probably as calm as I have ever felt all week and hit my tee shot to a foot.”
The win comes as a massive relief for Crowe, who after completing his HSC in 2019 had the golfing world at his feet.
“It has been challenging not being able to play tournament golf, and during this week I felt pressure I haven’t felt in a long time.
“But going back to the simple morals of playing each shot a time and going through my processes really got me through some tough spots in this afternoon’s match.
“It really gives me a huge boost of confidence going into next year. I was proud of the way I was able to flip my game from last week were it was very ordinary and quite simply the putter was terrible, into this week where the putter got very hot and the quality of golf shots were top tier.”
