Source: Golf SA
Last years’ runner up, Glenelg’s Jenny Lee, is the leading local hope in the 2014 Australian Amateur Championships starting today at The Grange Golf Club. This follows her career best win at last weeks’ Lake Macquarie Amateur in NSW.
A total of 288 players including 50 internationals from USA, England, China, Wales, Spain, Japan, Singapore, Korea and New Zealand will vie for the Amateur Championships hosted by The Grange Golf Club from today through to 19th January.
Of the 216 Men’s starters, 40 South Australian men will be chasing glory with 2013 Australian Junior Champion Anthony Murdaca a leading hope on his home course.
Fellow Grange members Jack Williams and Chris Brown are poised to do well along with Kooyonga’s Heath Riches.
Taylor MacDonald (Qld) and Ryan Ruffels (Vic), nationally ranked second and fifth respectively will also be in the mix along with world number five, Chang Woo Lee from Korea.
Another to watch is 13 year-old Chinese player Wocheng Ye who last May became the youngest player in European Tour history to qualify for a professional event at the Volvo China Open when he was 12 years, 242 days old.
In the Women’s Championship 8 of the 72 starters are from SA.
After a long layoff, former State number one Ebony Heard is back and with an unknown form-line, could cause some major upsets if she can progress to the match play rounds.
World number five and defending Champion Minjee Lee headlines the field along with her Victorian rival Su-Hyun Oh, ranked second in the world.
The Amateur Championships are Australia’s oldest golfing events, dating back to 1894 with both champions receiving exemptions into the Australian Open.
Qualifying is held over 36-holes (Tue 14 Jan & Wed 15 Jan) with the leading 64 men and 32 women then contesting elimination match play.
State and International Teams will contest the Ross Herbert National and International Teams Trophies, played in conjunction with the two qualifying rounds.
Glenelg’s Representatives
Lachlan Booth, Connor Chant, Josh Hayes, David Hiern, Campbell Rawson, Jenny Lee, Elysia Yap
Other SA Men’s Representatives
Blackwood: Steven Alderson
Barmera: Peter Johns
Barossa Valley: Zak Fuller, Tyron Turnbull
Clare: Tim Jenkins
Flagstaff Hill: Brad Stenner, Brad Manton, Scott Ready
Fleurieu: Jak Carter
Kooyonga: Tim Baker, Jordan Bishop, Jason Cocks, Heath Riches, Charles Shaw, Will Somerfield, Daniel Speirs
Pinnaroo: Tim Atze
Robe: Ben Tucker
Royal Adelaide: Louis Fuller, Patric Kroschel, Henry Perks
Tea Tree Gully: Zak Amundson
Thaxted Park: Kieren Barratt
The Grange: Chris Brown, Colin Coleman, Justin Crowder, Matthew Lisk, Anthony Murdaca, Andre Na, Adrian Pethick, Ben Stowe, Scott Webb, Jack Williams
The Stirling: David Henshaw
The Vines: Sam Earl
Other SA Women’s Representatives
Kooyonga: Ebony Heard
McCracken: Caillin Lakin
Royal Adelaide: Caitlin Roberts
The Grange: Ella Adams, Kristalle Blum, Cassidy Evreniadis
Championship Schedule
Tuesday 14 January: Round 1 Qualifying – The Grange Golf Club (East & West Course)
Wednesday 15 January: Round 2 Qualifying – The Grange Golf Club (East & West Course)
Thursday 16 January: Round 1 – Match Play (32 matches) – The Grange Golf Club (East Course)
Friday 17 January: AM: Round 2 – Match Play (16 matches); PM: Round 3 – Match Play (8 matches) – The Grange Golf Club (East Course)
Saturday 18 January: AM: Quarter-Finals (4 matches); PM: Semi-Finals (2 matches) – The Grange Golf Club (East Course)
Sunday 19 January: Final (36-holes) – The Grange Golf Club (East Course)
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