Mount Lawley’s Hannah Green (17) has earned herself the WA Amateur Medalist honours in a playoff against her good friend Alyssa Keir (18) of the Vines today at Royal Perth Golf Club.
Keir started the day two strokes adrift of Green, but she fired a the best round of the tournament, a 3-under 71, to tie with Green after the regulation 36 holes.
The playoff lasted three holes, with both players wasting opportunities on the first by missing close, but tricky, putts inside five feet. It was the second where both players came to the fore, hitting their approaches on the par three within 15 feet. Keir would sink her putt to put the pressure on Green to remain in the contest, and Green would follow up with a high pressure birdie putt to stay alive.
Keir found trouble right of the fairway on the third, and Green was able to secure the Medalist Honours with a par.
Was it a bit stressful out there in the playoff?
Yeah it was. Playing Alyssa, she’s like my sister. It was always going to be tough and it was a bit nerve-racking on the first hole as it finally sunk it that I was playing for the win and going against my best friend.
Is it easier or harder playing your friend…
I think it was harder. Knowing how badly we both want it but still being friendly. You kind of have to have that edge to it to actually win. It was hard.
Alyssa sunk a great putt on the second playoff hole for birdie. Leaving Green with a similar putt to tie the hole and stay in it…how did that feel?
I felt good over the putt and confident that I could make it, but after seeing Alyssa drain that, it’s always hard to try and hole a putt after seeing that. Especially in these types of conditions. It was good to hole that putt though. I thought it was actually drifting off line but then it snuck in!
It was a close day throughout between you, Hayley Bettencourt and Alyssa…was it draining?
It was. The last three holes I had birdie opportunities but I didn’t take advantage of them and just made pars but with my start I’m still happy with my round.
Matchplay?
Going to play the way I’ve been playing and leave myself opportunities and see what happens.
