Haydn Barron
(Golf WA Photo)
CANNING VALE, Australia (March 15, 2017) -- Haydn Barron pieced together the first stage of his plan for a breakthrough win at this week’s Amateur Championships of Western Australia by claiming a share of the lead after the opening round at Gosnells Golf Club on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old this week revealed he felt ready to “take the next step” in his progression – as he aimed to go better than his semifinal appearance last year – and was at least initially good to his word as he opened with a 69 on a day during which a large part of the field found scoring difficult.
Barron (West Australian Golf Club), who highlighted his day with an eagle at the par-four first, sits at the top of the leaderboard in a four-way tie with Adam Hatch (Royal Perth), Alistair Mcevoy (Westaviat) and Queenslander Lucas Higgins (Burleigh).
The round of the day, however, was arguably produced by Wanneroo teenager Kirsten Rudgeley as she shot to the top of the women’s leaderboard with a one-under 71 to be four strokes clear of the chasing pack.
Rudgeley, who was last week selected to the WA Junior State Team, fired four birdies in her round and is now almost certain to reach the match play phase of the tournament, with the women’s field to be reduced to 16 players on Thursday evening.
Victoria’s Montana Strauss is Rudgeley’s closest rival, after a steady round of 75, followed by Abbie Teasdale (Royal Fremantle, 76), Kathryn Norris (Mandurah) and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (Gosnells), both 77.
The round of the day, however, was arguably produced by Wanneroo teenager Kirsten Rudgeley as she shot to the top of the women’s leaderboard with a one-under 71 to be four strokes clear of the chasing pack.
Rudgeley, who was last week selected to the WA Junior State Team, fired four birdies in her round and is now almost certain to reach the match play phase of the tournament, with the women’s field to be reduced to 16 players on Thursday evening.
Victoria’s Montana Strauss is Rudgeley’s closest rival, after a steady round of 75, followed by Abbie Teasdale (Royal Fremantle, 76), Kathryn Norris (Mandurah) and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (Gosnells), both 77.
US Junior Amateur champion Min Woo Lee was within touching distance of the leaders after carding a 72 while Adam Davey (Greenbushes)- who won this tournament at this same venue 20 years ago – confirmed he would remain a factor as the week rolls on with a two-over round of his own.
The top of the women’s leaderboard is dominated by Western Australian Junior squad members with Rudgeley setting the pace.
Rudgeley made her move in five holes around the turn, when she carded three birdies from the seventh to the 11th, while her State squad team-mate Norris began her round with an eagle at the par-five 10th before carding a birdie at the 13th.
Norris was playing alongside Hinson-Tolchard, who kept in touching distance with the leaders on her home track, and Long Island’s Strauss.
ABOUT THE
Western Australia Amateur
The Western Australia (WA) Amateur is for men and
women amateurs of
any
age, and is played over 36-holes stroke play with
the
top 32 men and top 16 women qualifying for the
match
play rounds.
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