- photo courtesy Golf Australia
CANBERRA, Australia (March 7, 2011) -- Tim Hart is the runaway winner of the Federal Amateur Open Championship after leaving the field in his wake with a four under par final round 68 to finish the event seven under par (69, 70, 74, 68 - 281)
Runner up seven shots adrift was Kyle Grant (74, 73, 68, 73 – 288) who had cut Hart’s lead to only two shots after the third round. Grant from the Mona Vale Club in Sydney finished one over in the last round.
In third place a further five shots back was Singapore’s Gregory Foo who took out the trophy for the best score by an overseas entrant.
Speaking after his first national tournament win Hart said:
“It’s a great feeling deep down. I’ve beenworking towards this for four years. It’s really good, I’m really happy.
During the last month I’ve been going through a bit of a swing and set-up change which is working out really well. This win gives me theconfidence to know I can do it now, go out there knowing I can match it with these guys”.
In the last Federal Open in 2009, Hart was three shots ahead at the half way mark but was overhauled by back-to-back winner Matt Jager. This time Hart saw his eight shot lead after two rounds sliced to only two shots going into the final day, but his flat stick came to the fore:
“I had a hot putter in the last round”.
It was Hart’s fourth start in a Federal Open. In 2007 he missed the cut, in 2008 he tied for 55th on nine over par and in 2009 was runner-up with 10 under. After his win today Hart described the course as “awesome, of all the times I’ve been here it’s the best. It is unbelievable”.
Best placed of the Canberra entrants was Jason Nikolic from Royal Canberra (75, 74, 74,77 – 300) whilst the best Federal player was Cameron Haines (75, 81, 72, 72 – 301).
ABOUT THE Federal Open Amateur
72 hole stroke play championship with a cut
after 36 holes.
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