Australian Nathan Holman wins Riversdale in playoff - Golf update
Nathan Holman came from behind on the final day to challenge fellow Aussie Matt Stieger on the playoff hole, Riversdale’s 280 meter par fourth 18th, finishing off in style. Holman, who had started the tournament with an exceptional display of
accuracy when he fired a 10-under par for 62 and equalled the course record, had fallen in to obscurity on the second round when he finished 3-over par for 75. He managed to stay even par on the third round and was right alongside Stieger with 8-under par
until he pitched steady Stieger for three playoff holes and won the title.
“I’ve always wanted to win this one,” said Holman following the playoff. “The first round set me up perfectly. It was mine to win at that stage but I had an ordinary second round. I kind of just stuck at it and got the win.”
It is Holman’s first amateur title. 19-year-old Holman did well to hold off the in-form Stieger and did not give in to the extreme pressure of the final playoff holes. Stieger, who was on a winning streak after having just won the Tasmanian Open a fortnight
ago and also performed well in the NSW Amateur, The Masters of Amateur and a runners-up at Dunes Cup, was a formidable challenge to the relatively new Holman.
“I hit three good drives on the playoff holes and thought that I could have closed it out on the first,” said Holman. Winning at Riversdale, the most prestigious Australian Amateur cup, will go a long way in Holman’s grooming, making him a more seasoned
golfer. The young Aussie is all set to make his mark in the amateur tournaments ahead, starting off with the Australian Amateur Open this week at Victoria.
“I’m looking forward to the Aussie Am at home,” says Holman. “I’ve set my goals to win main events and have a crack at them. Winning and event like Riversdale with all the history and prestige is something that I’ve wanted to do. Hopefully, I can do well
this week and bring this form into the Australian Amateur.”
Holman has also lifted his ranking from 500th to 221st with this win in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
Tags: