The NSW Amateur final will be an all-Sydney affair in the men’s division, while the women’s title will be heading north in an all-Queensland matchup.
Defending Champion Declan O’Donovan of Avondale will take on St. Michael’s Daley Loumanis in an all-Sydney affair. In the women’s, 2022 Champion Shyla Singh of Southport will take on Royal Queensland’s Grace Rho.
Loumanis and O’Donovan were roommates when NSW won the Australian Interstate Teams Title in 2023, and now they will face off for Australia’s premier matchplay crown.
O’Donovan, the defending Champion, put on a sublime display in both matches. He accounted for well-credentialled Indian visitor Kartik Singh in his morning contest 5/3 – a match that featured no less than eight holes decided by birdies.
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The Avondale gun didn’t lose any of his drive in his afternoon semi-final, either, taking out the impressive Ti Fox from Concord Golf Club with another shotmaking masterclass, 4/3.
“They were a couple of good players today, it was a lot of fun,” O’Donovan grinned.
“There was some really nice golf on display in both matches, and I feel very fortunate to get into the final.”
“They both played great, so I had to play great. There was a ton of birdies out there.”
O’Donovan was delighted with his spot in tomorrow’s final for the second straight year locked away.
“Growing up playing golf in NSW you want to play in the Amateur and make the final. To have a chance in the final to win it twice in my lifetime would be a very, very cool accomplishment.”
Loumanis, in contrast, had to fight all the way to the 18th hole in both of his contests to reach the final.
“I played really well in both matches,” Loumanis said.
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“I was up most of the way in the morning match, and was three up through 14, but he (Bevan Trapp)gave me a good run at the end, rolling in a birdie putt on 17 on top of me to force me down the last.
“I hit a couple of nervy shots down the last, but hit a good bunker shot and then holed a great putt form about eight feet. It felt really nice!”
Much like his morning contest, Loumanis had to fight all the way by 2024 Cameron Smith Scholarship winner Kayun Mududana.
“When he missed that putt on 17 to go back to square, I thought I had a chance.
That came when Mudadana got a bad break on the last. His ball hit the cart path and ended up in the penalty area bordering the right-hand side of the fairway, all but ending the teenager’s chances.
For Loumanis, however, securing his place in the NSW Amateur final was sweet.
“I had two great strokeplay rounds and two great matches today. I had to fight in the end, and I’m really proud of how I played.”
“I know I will have to play my best to beat Declan tomorrow. He’s a great player and I know it will be a tough fight, but I know as long as I stick to my game I am in there with a chance.”
SINGH, RHO STEP UP FOR ALL-QUEENSLAND FINAL
Southport’s Shyla Singh will face Grace Rho in tomorrow’s all-Queensland NSW Amateur final here at Stonecutters Ridge.
Singh cruised her way to her third NSW Amateur final in four years with wins over Surfers Paradise Golf Club’s Amy Jo in the morning quarter-final, 6/5.
She followed that up in a nail-biter, taking out the Australian Amateur champ Rachel Lee, securing the win with a birdie on the 19th.
“I was two up and had two pretty good chances on 13 and 14 to go three up, but didn’t conveert. I just reminded myself I was still in the lead.”
“When Rachel went birdie – birdie (15 & 16), that really put the pressure on.”
The pair couldn’t be separated after regulation, and extra holes were needed. Thankfully for Singh, she only needed one.
A sublime pitching wedge into 10 feet on the 19th all but sealed the deal for the Gold Coast teenager.
“I didn’t want to play any more holes against her, she is tough,” Singh grinned.
“I had that putt earlier, and I overread it the first time around, so I knew what it did. I hit it firmly, and it went in.”
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Rho, the 36-hole strokeplay champion, didn’t make a bogey all day on her way to wins against Amanda Gan, 5/4, and last year’s Champion, Godiva Kim, 6/5.
“It’s pretty good this week.
“My irons have been good, better than last week.”
“36 hole matchplay I haven’t done that before, so it’s going to be a new challenge.” Rho smiled.
