#AusAm: Barbieri & # 039; s miracle rally

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DEFINITIVE SIGNS OF PEOPLE
The Australian Amateur title drew back overseas, until Nathan Barbieri's desire for a fight and fried chicken began.
Barbieri (21) was in a world of problems against the German Jannik De Bruyn in their semifinals at Woodlands Golf Club when his caddy, New South Wales-bandmate Jordie Garner, came up to inspire his attack with a culinary promise as he would triumph.
Then three on the fourteenth tee, Barbieri, awakened by the thought of secret herbs and spices, inspired golf all the way to the clubhouse, reigns in dramatic conditions on the 18th hole to make the final of tomorrow.
The Monash Country Club member will face Conor Purcell from Ireland, who won his semi-1-up amidst more drama at home.
Purcell, who had led for much of another big game, had been in trouble when his second of the par-five 18th finished just off the green and Hirmer found the green for an eagle test.
The Irishman played a sensitive bump shot to just outside a meter and later dropped his short birdie putt to catch the pressure on Hirmer.
The German eagle tried to win was less than 50 cm from the cup and most of them in the generous gallery assumed that they would go to the 19th to continue the fight.
But an audible sigh came quickly from the crowd as Hirmer missed his short bird and tried to hand Purcell the first last berth.
At the same time, De Bruyn was absolutely great to have No.2 seed Blake Windred earlier in the day and almost as good with four birdies through 13 holes in the semi – unconscious on the eve of his own disaster on the 18th tee.
With Barbieri hit a thumping ride in the middle, the left-hander from Dusseldorf grabbed him and lost the ball somewhere roughly against the frontier fence – or maybe just about it – despite a small army as a search party.
His provisional ride was not much better and by the time he chopped him back, it was his fifth shot that eventually found the green when Barbieri calmly put down his second plate on the center of the pit surface.
De Bruyn, all the class after his bogey putt missed, admitted Barbieri's eagle and shook hands politely despite clear disbelief that his hard-fought lead had evaporated in trance.
Barbieri was an impressive combination of modest and bewildered right afterwards.
"I was on the 14th tee thinking I was cooked … I did not hit a lot of good photos and I just came from three bogeys," said the Sydneysider.
"I kept talking to Jordie and I was certainly going to make some magic happen and play some good holes, which I did, so I'm very proud of myself that I have not given up."
A victory with a par on the 14th was followed by an absolutely lasered 3-wood second shot of 260 m on the par-5 15th that De Bruyn clearly reminded of what could happen if the lead was cut to one.
A strained 16th was halved and De Bruyn's miss on the short side of a left pin on the 17th could not be conquered and another birdie was admitted to the Aussie, who was suddenly square.
"Then I hit a good ride so all the pressure was on him and unfortunately for Jannik, he hit two shots right," Barbieri said about the drama of the last hole.
"I had to take a good photo … and hit 6-iron of about 180 m and that was it, really
"My heart goes very fast, but I am pumped.
"It is very satisfying, I know that I have worked hard and that it is great."
The men's finale, which will be played over 36 holes, is scheduled to start at 8.40 am on Sunday in Woodlands.