Purcell eases into last 32 at Australian Amateur
Conor Purcell (Ireland) pitching to the 2nd green during the first round of the 2018 World Amateur Team Championship ( Eisenhower Trophy) at Carton House (05/09/2018). Picture by Pat Cashman
Portmarnock's Conor Purcell eased his way into the last 32 of the Australian Amateur Championship as top seed David Micheluzz bit the dust at Woodlands in Melbourne.
The world No 104 beat Western Australia's Connor McKinney 4&2 and now faces Japan's Keita Nakajima in Friday's second round.
However, world No 8 and leading qualifier Micheluzzi, the highest ranked player in the field, lost 2&1 to Sydney’s Harrison Crowe (17) who qualified in 64th place.
“Harrison played really well the first three holes (par, eagle, birdie) so I was down early, tried my hardest to fight back, but he made two or three birdies in the last five holes as well,” said Micheluzzi , who carded a brace of eight-under-par rounds to lead the qualifiers by seven strokes.
“Credit to him, he’s a very fine young player, and when I found out he was just 17 I was a bit shocked, he was bombing it past me.
“Tonight I’ll probably be a little angry, but at the end of the day, it’s just a round of golf. These things happen, and I played well the last few days, and that’s what I’m going to focus on.”
Purcell, who is one of Ireland’s big hopes for a Walker Cup cap this year, finished 34th in the Australian Master of the Amateurs at Royal Melbourne last week.
