- photo courtesy New South Wales G.A.
SYDNEY, Australia (Feb. 2, 2011) --It was an all-English affair in the final of the 2011 NSW Amateur Championship, held today (Wednesday 2 February 2011) at New South Wales Golf Club in Sydney.
2011 NSW Medal Winner, Andy Sullivan (Nuneaton, UK) battled it out with Jack Senior (Haysham, UK) over 36-holes.
The pair toggled over the first 18-holes, eventually finishing up the round square.
Over the second 18-holes, it was a different story. Senior took the advantage two up on the 26th hole, then continued to build his lead to four up by the 29th. The score remained over the next four holes and with four up and four holes to play it looked like Senior had it in the bag.
Sullivan continued to fight, pegging back a shot on the 33rd hole, however it was all over on the 34th, Senior winning the match 3/2.
Understandily, Senior was thrilled with the win. "I'm just really pleased with the result. Match play is generally not my strength. I'm usually much stronger over 72-holes, so I was really pleased with how I progressed through the match play, and then to get the win just exceeded my expectations.
It will give me real confidence going forward in match play events".
The all-English final meant it was a fairly relaxed contest around the course.
"It was great to play with Sully. Obviously we play together and against each other a lot, and it was nice to know that no matter who won it would be an English player."
Although it was an arm-wrestle over the first 18 holes, Senior felt he had it over the back 18.
"I got a few up on the second 18 and went on from there. I was really pleased with how I played over the back 18."
The leading 32 players from last week's NSW Medal were eligible to compete in the NSW Amateur Championship Match Play, played at New South Wales Golf Club on 31 January - 2 February 2011. Each match was played over 18 holes other than the Final which was played over 36 holes.
The NSW Amateur Championship is the oldest major event conducted by Golf NSW, having first been played in 1898. The list of former winners contains a who’s who of NSW and Australian Golf greats including the likes of Bruce Devlin, Jack Newton, Tony Gresham, Brett Ogle, Peter O’Malley, Michael Campbell and Brendan Jones.
ABOUT THE NSW Men's Amateur
The NSW Medal is played over two courses. It is
two rounds of 18-holes stroke play and then match
play.
The field is evenly divided between the two
venues for the first day’s play with players
changing venues for their second round. The winner
of
the 36 holes stroke play
section of the Championship is the winner of the
NSW Medal.
The leading 32 players from the NSW Medal
(who have nominated to play in the NSW
Amateur) will be eligible to compete in the NSW
Amateur Championship Match Play, with each
match played over 18-holes other than the Final
which is played over 36-holes. The match play is
seeded with ties determined by lot.
View Complete Tournament Information