Curtis Luck has broken the course record to earn the Strokeplay Medalist honours at the WA Amateur at Royal Perth.
Luck trailed by six shots over Royal Perth course superintendent Michael Dennis, but quickly made up ground with a six-under-par opening nine holes that features four straight birdies from the third to the sixth and an eagle on the ninth.
Luck, who was even to start the day, won the WA Amateur medal by four strokes over Dennis, who finished second at 5-under par, with Min Woo Lee a further stroke back at 4-under-par.
Luck took the record away from Brett Rumford (who grew up as a Royal Perth Member) and Daniel Nisbett (Queensland), who both shot 65 at the WA Open in 2012.
Luck will take the number one seed into the WA Amateur Matchplay, where he will play the number 16 seed on the opening round tomorrow.
Gosnells Jarryd Felton finished in a tie for 7th at even par, after bouncing back with a 4-over opening round to shoot 68 on the final day.
63…what happened out there?
Everything happened really. Can’t really put it down to one thing. I hit it really well. Putting was obviously unbelievable. That’s where it was at I think with getting 9-under, just putted great, but I hit it well as well.
Have you played this well before?
I’ve had 64 at Cottesloe but it doesn’t rank with anything like this because this is in a competition, the course is set up pretty tough I’d say. The green are pretty quick. Definitely played probably the best golf I’ve played in my life.
Approaching today 6 shots back…
I was trying to make up as ground as I could going into today. The goal was to just go out and have a good round and make the matchplay and go from there, but it obviously went further than that.
You, Jarryd Felton & Daniel Hoeve were joking around all day on the course…does that make it easier?
We always have a good time out there, Jarryd have been traveling this year so we’re always bound to have a bit of fun. I know the boys really well. It does help and make you in a more calm relaxed mood when you play.
Matchplay is a completely different game. You gotta try and have fun out there still but you can’t leave anything behind. You’ve got to take it really seriously to win games in matchplay, because anything can happen. That’s the difference between stroke and match.