Jazy Roberts and Michael Hanrahan-Smith (Golf Australia Photo)
Michael Hanrahan-Smith and Jazy Roberts produced the goods to lift the Mandurah Amateur Open trophies on Monday.
Fresh from her top-five finish at the Bowra & O’Dea Women’s Classic, Roberts was the runaway winner of the women’s championship, returning a 2-under-par 72-hole total to win by seven strokes.
In the mix all week, Roberts, a member of Golf Australia's High-Performance Squad, held the halfway lead and never looked like relinquishing it on the final day despite the rigors of playing 36 holes in one day.
She closed with rounds of 69 and 70 to keep the field at arm’s length, with Celine Chen claiming the runner-up spot ahead of Bowra & O’Dea champion Caitlin Peirce.
“I felt like I hit it solid last week but just didn’t score as well as I would’ve liked,” Roberts told GolfWA.
“I definitely scored better this week in what were some tough conditions over the weekend.”
In the men’s competition, Hanrahan-Smith produced a masterclass on the final day to overturn a five-shot deficit to 36-hole leader Joe Owen.
Hanrahan-Smith’s blemish-free 5-under-par morning round of 66 included three birdies and an eagle, moved him to within two of Owen going into Monday afternoon’s final 18 holes.
There, a further display of clinical ball-striking on his way to a 2-under 69 propelled Hanrahan-Smith into the clubhouse lead at 6-under for the championship.
A sensational up-and-down for birdie on No. 18 proved to be the clincher for Hanrahan-Smith, who ultimately pipped Queenslander Billy Dowling to the title by a single stroke.
Owen, meanwhile, slipped to a closing 75 to finish fifth behind Victorian duo Jasper Stubbs and Phoenix Campbell.
For GolfWA High-Performance athlete Hanrahan-Smith, the victory has huge significance given that he has struggled with a wrist injury for much of the past 12 months.
“It’s just awesome to play well again after what’s been a tough last year with my injury,” he told GolfWA.
“I hit it really solid all week, and my short game was good in what were some really rough conditions. I’m stoked to sneak over the line at an event like the Mandurah Amateur. Hopefully, I can keep this good form going forward.”
ABOUT THE Mandurah Amateur
72 hole stroke play championship with a cut
after 36 holes.
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