Hurley the sole survivor in Australian Amateur
Gary Hurley in action.Gary Hurley was the only Irishman to make it through to the second round of the Australian Amateur Open at Woodlands Golf Club in Melbourne.
The West Waterford player was an estimated one-under par for the match when he beat Australian Ben Clementson 1 up. But it was a disappointing day for the other two Irish survivors for the matchplay stages (see results in attached file below).
Muskerry’s Niall Gorey was soundly beaten 7 and 6 by the inspired New Zealand international Ben Campbell, who had seven birdies in their tussle.
Mourne’s Reeve Whitson, who had qualified comfortably for the knockout stages, was two under par when he lost on the 18th to England’s Ashley Chesters.
Hurley will face Germany’s Marcel Schneider in the second round at 2118 tonight (Irish time) with an excellent chance of making good progress through the draw following the elimination of nine of the top 10 seeds in the first round.
Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy failed to qualify for the matchplay stages but will join Gorey, Hurley and Whitson in the Lake Macquarie Amateur Championship (72 hole strokeplay) at Belmont Golf Club in Sydney from January 26-29.
The GUI nominated quartet will then play the New South Wales Amateur begins with a 72-hole stroke play tournament at Mona Vale Golf Club and Long Reef Golf Club in Sydney from February 1-3. The top-32 finishers qualifying for the Amateur Championship itself, decided over three days of match play at nearby Elanora Golf Club from February 6-8.