Many of Western Australia’s elite amateur golfers will partake in the Avondale Amateur this week in New South Wales, with some in-form players looking to leave their mark early in the year.
The event consists of a 72-hole stroke play format, with the winning male receiving the Avondale Medal; while the winning female earns the Avondale Bowl.
Ben Ferguson and Haydn Barron will headline our men’s contingent, with the two looking to make improvements after missing the cut at the Australian Amateur Championships last weekend.
Josh Greer will be buoyed after an impressive opening to his campaign last week, reaching the quarter-finals of the national tournament.
Greer took down leading WA amateur Min Woo Lee in his second match play fixture, filling the youngster with plenty of confidence going into Avondale.
Robbie Morrison has also had a successful beginning to 2018, making to the last 32, before being ousted by Shae Wools-Cob. Morrison will be joined by Jose De Sousa, who missed the cut last week.
Kirsten Rudgeley will be a strong contender for the title after reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Amateur, going down to eventual winner Suzuka Yamaguchi.
Rudgeley will be the sole Western Australian representative on the women’s side of the draw.
Ferguson heads to Avondale with high hopes of a strong showing, with The Vines product wanting continued success over the four days.
“Obviously we are going into every tournament trying to win it, but specifically, trying to get off to a good start,” Ferguson said.
“There is four rounds, so a lot of golf to be played.”
Majority of the WA team will change their focus from match play to stroke play this week after strong showings at the Australian Amateur Championship.
“It is very different,” he claimed.
“Last week to make the qualifying you’re not trying to lead to quick, you can’t really win in the first few days.”
“Here you are trying to do as well as you can from the get go.”
With plenty of players making the trip over to Avondale, representation of black and gold will be out in force.
“Haydn (Barron) and I are here,” he claimed. “I have seen Robbie Morrison he is coming out with some good form after last week.”
“Josh Greer has been in great form for the last few months.”
Ferguson believes the course has some challenges, with the simple formula of straight hitting a real key to success.
“It is a course that is very tight off the tee; you have to hit fairways because the rough is quite difficult,” he said.
“You have to stay straight off the tee. It is a course that would really suit Greer actually.”
Meanwhile, Adam Brady and Cooper Geddes are also on the course this week, travelling to Melbourne to compete in the Victorian Junior Masters.
Geddes sits in a tie for 13th after shooting three-over-par 75 during round one.
Overall there are six squad members in Victoria with Geddes and Brady accompanied by Josh Herrero, Madison Hinson-Tolchard, Eve Cohen and Georgia Garner-Dart.
