Windred validates ranking, storms to Avondale title defense

February 1, 2019 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

KK Park and Blake Windred with former Prime Minister John Howard (Golf NSW photo)

Blake Windred started the day three shots behind but did exactly what was needed to defend his Avondale Amateur title

Blake Windred had three shots to make up at the start of the day, but there’s a reason he is the second-highest ranked Australian in the world. Windred’s final-round 68 was just enough to pull off an Avondale Amateur title defense and secure his first major amateur victory of 2019.

Windred, No. 11 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Ranking and the highest-ranked player in the field, finished 72 holes at Avondale Golf Club in Pymble, Australia with a 9-under 275 total. His final-round 68 included four birdies and a bogey.

A breakthrough was obviously coming for the 21-year-old after a quarterfinal run at the Australian Men’s Amateur and a top-3 finish at the Master of the Amateurs.

“Last year I hit it awful and scrapped it around to get the win, but this year, it was better,” Windred said. “I could’ve holed more putts this week, which is usually my strength, but I’m so happy with the way I hung in there. I’m pretty speechless at the moment, really.”

Next up for Windred is the Victorian Open at 13th beach, by far the biggest tournament he has played in.

It was a show-what-you’ve-got kind of day at Avondale, with the best round coming from a player who was six groups ahead of Windred. That was fellow Aussie Jediah Morgan, who had a final-round 66 that included only one bogey, at the second.

Morgan climbed all the way into solo second, at 8 under, with that round. Jordan Garner, with rounds of 71-66-69-71, was solo third another shot back.

Jye Pickin, the Avondale local who flew out to the first- and second-round lead with opening 66s, had closing rounds of 74 to finish sixth.

In the women’s division, Korean KK Park cruised to a sizable eight-shot win over compatriot Min A Yoon. Interestingly, the 18-year-old had an edge from the word go after eagling her opening hole.

“I am so happy because it is my first win in a major tournament,” Park said.

Information from Golf New South Wales used in this report

Results: Avondale Amateur Medal

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Blake Windred	, Australia	1000	70-67-70-68=275
2	Jediah Morgan	, Australia	700	69-72-69-66=276
3	Jordan Garner	, Australia	500	71-66-69-71=277
T4	Lukas Michel	, Australia	500	74-67-70-67=278
T4	Jack Thompson	, Australia	500	70-72-68-68=278

View full results for Avondale Amateur Medal

About the Avondale Amateur Medal

Windred validates ranking, storms to Avondale title defense

One of the top events in Australia, the Avondale Amateur consists of a men’s field of 120 players competing for the Avondale Medal. Players from the UK, Europe, Asia and the Americas compete in the event against the very best Australian players. 72 h...