Purcell cruises into Australian Amateur matchplay after 65
Conor Purcell (Ireland) birdies the 18th green during the third round of the 2018 World Amateur Team Championship ( Eisenhower Trophy) at Carton House last September. Picture by Pat Cashman
Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell made eight birdies in a seven-under par 65 to cruise into the matchplay stages of the Australian Men's Amateur Championship in Melbourne.
The Irish international and world amateur No 104 tied for third in 36-hole stroke play qualifying on eight-under par, just two strokes behind World No. 7 David Micheluzzi.
The Australian shot a second consecutive eight-under-par round — his 64 at Woodlands Golf Club following a 63 at nearby Spring Valley yesterday — to win the medallist honours by a stroke from compatriot Blake Windred (65) on 10-under.
Purcell. who opened with a two-under 70 at Spring Valley, finished tied for third with Canada’s Joey Savoie (65) after a seven-under par effort at Woodlands.
Out in an immaculate four-under 32 on the back nine, the former South of Ireland champion came home in 33 as he mixed birdies at the first, second, fourth and fifth with a final hole bogey.
With 11 players tied for 62nd on one-over, playoffs were in progress to decide the draw for the top 64 who will contest the first matchplay round on Thursday.
Japan’s Yuri Yoshida and Sae Ogura tied for first with Australia’s Doey Choi in the Women’s Australian Amateur on seven-under.
