With one of the most hotly contested fields in recent history, Victorian professional Euan Walter’s has gone one better in 2010 taking out the 2010 Meng Tyre & Mechanical City of Mackay Pro Am.
After the completion of two rounds, Steve Jones from Victoria was tied for the lead however his thoughts were certainly not thinking about winning the tournament come Sunday. During a practise round on Wednesday, Jones’ wife Kate collapsed on the course and had to be rushed to hospital where she has spent the past few days recovering. It’s only with Kate’s blessing that Steve continued to compete in the event. The two round cut was made at 2 over par with 51 professionals playing on the weekend. Household names like Scott Laycock, Andrew Bonhomme and Tristan Lambert were casualties of the Day Two cut.
Round three arrived with four players tied for the lead with Victorians Steve Jones, Andrew Martin and last years runner up Euan Walters joining New Zealand’s Scott Hill on top at 8 under par. Hill unfortunately started poorly and was unable to recover fading down the leaderboard. Walters and Jones both had solid days finishing the day on 2 under par 69’s to lead the field into the final day on 203(10 under). Andrew Martin slipped to one back following a round of 70.
The biggest mover on day 3 was Gary Simpson with the day’s best score of 66. After just surviving the 2 day cut the South Australian moved up 27 spots giving himself an opportunity to lift the trophy come Sunday afternoon.
Player’s were welcomed with perfect scoring conditions for the final round’s play where spectators were waiting with anticipation as to who the breakaway player would be. The group of the day would be the one spectator’s were waiting to watch, with Jones regarded as the longest hitter on tour and Walters the shortest, being paired together for the final round. Who was going to be the 2010 champion?
Jones’ start would however not go to script, with a double bogey at the short second hole, all but ending hopes of an emotional victory. Walters was steady through the front nine getting it to 11 under par for the tournament, though a bogey at the 14th looked to have proven costly when Queenslander Marcus Cain posted the equal low round of the day, a 4 under par 67 which gave him the clubhouse lead at 10 under. Needing a birdie at the last, Walters missed a 10 foot to win meaning a playoff would again determine the tournament winner.
Cain teed off first finding trouble up the right, with Walters ripping his drive up the fairway. With Cain having to chip out, the door was open for Walters who laid up short of the green. Cain then found the left trap with his third while Walters found the green. The pressure was now firmly on Cain to make the up and down to send the playoff into extra holes unfortunately for he was unable to do this which allowed Walters the chance to two putt for victory. The crowds hearts were in there mouths as Walters’ first putt rolled three foot past, but he was then able to hold his nerve to make the winning putt to become the 2010 Meng Tyre & Mechanical City of Mackay Pro Am Champion.
“Looking at the list of winners of the tournament, I feel very privileged to win here at Mackay. After loosing to Leigh last year, I tried to draw upon some of the same feelings that got me there in the first place and lucky for me, this year I got over the line” mentioned Walters
The professionals now focus on Australia’s largest pro am, the Pat O’Driscoll Real Estate / Tropical Auto Group Golf Classic which starts on Thursday. Euan Walters is once again expected to be in contention come Sunday afternoon but with the likes of Mitchell Brown, Matt Griffin and last week’s Indonesian Open Champion Michael Hendry joining the playing group, look for some low scoring.