Nesbitt, Wilson and Mid-Am crowns
by Stuart Eaton and Mark Hayes
Olivia Wilson and Daniel Nesbitt proudly display their trophies.
The crowns came in hugely different styles, but Daniel Nesbitt and Olivia Wilson are the new Australian Mid-Amateur champions.
Wilson dominated the beautiful but smoke-covered Magenta Shores layout for the second consecutive day, and extended her nighttime lead by four to win the women's title by 10 strokes to 19 past par.
The GC member of New South Wales probably had to stumble to bring her rivals back into battle, so it was effectively over when she was even 13 holes from her third and final round par.
Four late bogeys postponed the celebration of the 31-year-old, but in her first tilt at the event, her rounds of 84-75-76 were more than enough.
Adele Wilson, from the Bonville Golf Resort, played cards 83-82-80 to finish second at +29 while completing an NSW trifecta, Cathy Stolz of Shelly Beach, finished third at +32.
But it was far from smooth sailing for Nesbitt, who represents The Links Shell Cove.
Nesbitt who dueled all day with game partner Christopher Campbell, from nearby Port Kembla.
The pair started on fourth on level, but it was Nesbitt who narrowly led much of the day as the tension increased.
His one-shot lead grew to two despite his own bogey when Campbell got a double bogey when the pair played the 10th.
Campbell made seemingly important birds on the 12th and 14th to draw square again.
When Nesbitt endured a double bogey on the 16th, the momentum and leadership were both gone.
But just when the title seemed to be within Campbell's reach, he doubled after bunker problems on the 17th, just as Nesbitt hit with a critical bird to regain his one-off lead.
After Campbell initialed the closing par-five, it was left to Nesbitt to drill his extraordinarily delayed birdie attempt and the title was finally his.
Three men shared third place, two behind Campbell on eight left.
The arms of Craig Whitehead and Palm Meadows of Royal Canberra, Adam Hawkins, impressed everything, but they were accompanied late by Mark Boulton of Phillip Island, who made a bogey on the fifth, but then poured six birdies for the rest of his round and a best five for an event – below par 67.
LEADERBOARDS