World number 125, Hayley Bettencourt from Mandurah Country Club in WA has cruised to victory in the Rene Erichsen Salver held at the Glenelg Golf Club in Adelaide finishing at 8-over for the tournament.
After trailing Hannah Green from Mt Lawley Golf Club, by seven strokes after round one, Bettencourt made her charge in round two, moving to joint equal leader after 36 holes with a round of 74.
“In the first round, I didn’t have a swing, I was struggling with the feel and the only thing that was working was my putter. I said to myself just don’t have a blowout, so I was relatively happy to finish at 5-over.” Bettencourt said.
After three rounds, the Western Australian held a 6 stroke buffer from her nearest opponent Jo Charlton from Metropolitan and was 8 ahead of both Elizabeth Elmassian (NSW) and Kono Matsumoto (VIC).
“In rounds two and three, I had a few things on my mind that I wanted to work on and in the end my short game was on fire really”. Bettencourt said after posting rounds of 74-72.
Going into the final round, Bettencourt was never going to be complacent. “I wasn’t overly confident as I’ve been shaky in the last round in the past few tournaments, but I’ve worked on a few things at a recent WA Camp and with my coach Richie Smith”. Bettencourt said.
Bettencourt retained her lead throughout the final round and with three birdies on the front nine, was 6 ahead of her nearest rival Charlton through 12 holes.
Despite bogeys on 14, 15 and 17, Bettencourt held a six stroke lead down the last and finished in fine style with a birdie on the 467metre par 5 final hole to claim her second big win of the year, after taking honors at the WA Amateur mid-March.
“Around this course you definitely have to play smart. Towards the end I just wanted to chill out, have fun and let it go and not worry about what was happening.”
“My course management and short game, chipping and putting basically got me over the line this week” said Bettencourt.
“I’ve become a lot smarter, I’m not the longest hitter, but have developed a very good short game. I just play to the centre of the green and then I’m confident with the putter.”
Three out of the current top five women players and two out the top four men Amateurs, are from WA.
“There’s a real positive vibe coming out of WA at the moment and we’re all feeding off each other. I’m really looking forward to the Interstate Series, then I’m off to the US for a few big tournaments”. Bettencourt added.
Finishing runner up in the Rene Erichsen was Jo Charlton at (15-over) after posting rounds75-77-77-74 (303). A further stroke back in third was Elizabeth Elmassian, 79-83-69-73 (304).
Jenny Lee was the best placed South Australian finishing in 8th position with rounds of 80-76-79-78 (25-over).
The Men’s event, Simon VItikangas of Queensland would be the winner of the SA Amateur Classic.
Heading into the final round 2-over, four strokes behind leader Jarryd Felton from WA and two behind Tory Moses, Aaron Wilkin and Jordan Zunic, Viitakangas stormed out of the blocks with 4 birdies and an eagle on the opening nine holes, to move to 3-under-par for the tournament.
An impressive 67 in the third round gave GOsnells Jarryd Felton the overnight lead in to the final round, howver Felton was unable to back up his effort, shooting a 74 on the final day, while winner Vitikangas hit a course record 64 to take the victory.
Mandurah’s Hayley Bettencourt had overcome a seven shot deficit after the opening day to join fellow Western Australian Hannah Green in the lead of the Rene Erichsen Salver being held at Glenelg Golf Club.
Bettencourt’s 2-over effort was the second best round of the event so far, while Green struggled, going 9-over for the day.
In the Men’s, Jarryd Felton raced into the top 10 and is just three strokes off the pace with an even par 72 for his second round. Felton’s round featured an eagle on the par-4 seventh, where he holed out form 50m.
An opening round of 70 has given Hannah Green a handy five stroke lead ahead of tomorrow’s final round at Golf South Australia’s Rene Erichsen Salver.
Green carded five bridies in her 2-under round to lead by five over Queensland’s Rebecca Kay and NSW’s Jo Charlton.
WA Amateur champion Hayley Bettencourt is in fifth place at 5-over par while Royal Perth’s Nadine Smith is in a tie for 7th at 7-over.
In the Men’s SA Amateur Classic, Jarryd Felton is T13 at 2-over while Michael Montgomery is T16 at 3-over.
