Jager Wins Australian Stroke Play
KARRINYUP, AUSTRALIA (March 21, 2010)--Western Australia’s Matt Jager fired a final round 2-under par 70 at Lake Karrinyup Country Club to complete a five stroke victory at the Srixon Australian Men’s Stroke Play Championship.
Set up by his outstanding opening round 7-under par 65, the current New Zealand Amateur champion followed up with consistent rounds of 70, 71 and 70 to seal the title at 12-under par.
“It’s a good feeling and I set out at the start of the week to try and dominate and enjoy having the event in my home state so it’s definitely a great start to the week,” Jager said.
“It’s nice to win...after the way I played today I didn’t think I would have that many strokes up my sleeve.”
Reflecting on his sensational opening round, the AIS/Golf Australia National Squad member said the start gave him plenty of confidence.
“I came home after the Riversdale Cup and did some work on my long game with my coach Ritchie Smith and in the first round at Mount Lawley, everything just clicked,” he said.
There will be no rest for Jager who begins his quest to be the 2010 Srixon Australian Amateur champion in Monday’s opening match play rounds and won’t change his approach to the course.
“A lot people treat match play as just having to beat your opponent but you still have to play the course in the way it was meant and though I’ve won the stroke play, I’ll still play the course as I’ve mapped it out,” Jager said.
Victorian Luke Bleumink, who was part of the winning team at the recent Australian Men’s Foursomes Championship, finished tied for second with Korean Riversdale Cup champion Jin Jeong at 7-under par.
Overnight co-leader Ryan Woodward (VIC) finished with a final round 78 to take outright fourth.
NEC Master of the Amateurs champion Jordan Sherratt (SA) took fifth place at 3-under par following a final round 74.
Victorian pair Kieran Pratt and defending champion Bryden Macpherson finished at 2-under par.
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox finished tied with Tasmanian Ryan McCarthy at 1-under par for the championship.
England’s Toby Burden finished in 10th place at even par.
The top 32 players from the Srixon Australian Men’s Stroke Play Championship qualify for the Match Play rounds of the Srixon Australian Amateur Championship at Lake Karrinyup Country Club beginning on Monday 21 March.