Windred and Hong claim low am honors
The healthy rivalry between Blake Windred and David Micheluzzi was resumed on Sunday at the ISPS Handa Vic Open and the New South Welshman was the winner on the way to low amateur honors.
After positioning himself in recent months as one of Australia's finest talents, Windred's brilliant form continued in the final round on the 13th beach, crowning a card of less than 71 years to finish 11 tournament
.
Windred finished in a share of 12 on the leaderboard, a week after winning the Avondale medal in Sydney, which saw him rise to World Nr. 13.
The rounds of 70, 67, 69 and 71 from Windred saw him darkening Micheluzzi in five strokes, the pair was clearly the best male amateurs from Australia, both in the form and in the world rankings
Micheluzzi, currently the World Nr. 5, the week started with rounds of 67 and 68 and at one point reached well within the top 10 of the rankings, but could not reproduce that shape on the way to scores of 74 and 73 in the weekend.
"I love the atmosphere in professional golfing, especially this tournament, which was absolutely my biggest professional event," said Windred.
"To beat some of the boys, it is definitely a icing on the cake! It gives me a lot of confidence in the coming months and for when I have to turn pro."
Since winning a place in the Asian-Pacific Amateur Championship in Singapore in October, Windred finished third on the NSW Open, third with the Australian Amateurs' Master, and reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Amateur Championship
In the women's event, the recent Australian Amateur champion Amy Hong continued her marvelous run to start in 2019, with the Korean ending the low amateur qualities of the women.
A Saturday 79 meant that Hong did not go to the Beach Course in the final round, but the low amateur crown was already safe after opening rounds of 68 and 72.
Hong finished as two over for the tournament, two battles for Sydney's Steph Kyriacou.
The St Michael's member burst out of the blocks with an opening of four under 69, but could not keep up that pace during her debut at the ISPS Handa Vic Open.
