One hundred and five leading Amateurs enjoyed Round 2 of the Stroke play in the 2020 State Amateur Championship hosted by Melville Glades Golf Club.
Haydn Barron and Kirsten Rudgeley led the charge after their course record-breaking rounds yesterday. Enjoying a sleep-in and the benefits of the cool afternoon breeze, they were both able to maintain their top position, however not as easily.
2019 Runner-up Haydn qualified for the match play in top position, narrowly ahead of Royal Fremantle’s Hayden Hopewell. After dropping a shot on the 12th, Hopewell rallied with birdies on 13, 15, 17 and 18, a strong finish that left him one shot short of Barron.
Barron didn’t manage to light up the course for a second time but he proved impossible to catch after building a four-stroke lead in round 1. Barron turned at three-under but then missed a short putt on the 10th and lost his game for a few holes.
Speaking after his round, Barron said, “I didn’t really play any good shots on the back nine – did ok on the last hole … it was just one of those days!”
“Tomorrow I will play very similarly to how I played the course the last two days, but potentially some shots around the green will be more or less aggressive depending on the position of my opponent. It is a different game with only one opponent out there.”
Joondalup’s Connor McKinney qualified in 11th position and noted, “The course was little trickier for me today with the wind up and pins in difficult positions, but the greens rolled better. I hit a solid drive on the first hole of the day, left side, knocked in about 12 foot from pin then holed my putt. That gave me great confidence going forward today.”
2019 State Am winner Kirsten Rudgeley was steady in Round 2 keeping her spot at the top of the table, closely followed by State teammates Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Kathryn Norris and Abbie Teasdale.
Royal Perth’s Brooke Price, played consistently well in both rounds, “Hole 7 was my best of the day. I hit driver down the middle, 180 into the wind I then hit the best three-wood shot of my life to make birdie!”
These familiar faces will make for some exciting match play in the coming days.
Shaun Cameron (fresh from a win at the Albany Classic) recently relocated to WA from NSW. Shaun is doing his new home club Cottesloe GC proud with a 68 in round 2.
Gosnells local Jose De Sousa, had an impressive eight birdies carding a 67 that sees him qualify in third position. Kicking back Jose noted, “I didn’t do anything specky, nothing really worth mentioning ….”
Rising Joondalup star, Aldrich Potgieter was consistent with two rounds of 70.
My Best hole was the 8th, pitched in and holed the putt for birdie. Hole 9 was the most challenging – right in between clubs downwind. I didn’t even make the cut last year so I’m very pleased to be in the mix this year.
As dusk approached, nine men went to a sudden-death playoff to battle it out for the three remaining spots in the final thirty-two. Jack Patterson managed to nab one of the three spots and now joins his dad, Paul and brother, Tom in the final 32. Joseph Owen and Ian Pienaar were the final two that won their way through to the match play.
The first round of match play will commence tomorrow morning at 7.30 am at Melville Glades Golf Club.
