Masters Hero Tip To Play At Belmont

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday December 5, 2006

Brett Keeble - Down the fairway

TOURNAMENT organisers are confident Aaron Pike, the next big thing in Australian golf, will be back at Belmont next month to contest the 50th anniversary Lake Macquarie Greater International Amateur Championship.

The 21-year-old, 115 kilogram Queenslander was the name on everyone's lips when he led the Australian Masters at Huntingdale for the first two rounds and eventually finished fourth behind winner Justin Rose, another Lake Macquarie graduate.

Pike shot a course-record 64 in the opening round of the Masters 12 days ago then held his nerve, and the lead, after a second-round 69 to head the star-studded field into the weekend.

He was still in contention late on Sunday afternoon and even shared the lead alongside Rose with a few holes to play. But he had to settle for fourth on nine-under-par 279 (64-69-72-74).

The fact he was unable to win the gold jacket convinced Pike he was not ready to turn pro, meaning he should be back for his third crack at the 72-hole Lake Macquarie tournament, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious amateur events in world golf.

Tournament organiser Richard Patrick was confident Pike and fellow Queenslander Andrew Dodt, the leading amateur at the Australian Open at Royal Sydney a fortnight ago, would be in the field next month.

Pike and Dodt, who have both played at Belmont for the past two years, qualify automatically as members of the Queensland state team and Australian squad.

"My ears pricked up when they interviewed him [Pike] after the Masters and he said he wasn't going to turn pro," Patrick said.

"As far as I'm aware, they should both be playing because they're state players and in the Australian squad.

"They've actually played in the last two. Andrew was fifth in 2005 and midfield this year, and Aaron finished around the middle in '05 and missed the cut this year."

After a first-round 77 at the Australian Open, Dodt carded three consecutive rounds of 70 to finish tied for 11th with Paul Gow and Nick O'Hern on 287 seven strokes behind winner John Senden.

Rose is one of many international professional stars who cut their teeth around Belmont as amateurs.

As a 17-year-old, the South African-born Englishman was the first-round leader at Belmont in 1998 and six months later finished fourth behind Mark O'Meara, another former Lake Macquarie competitor, in the British Open.

The Lake Macquarie tournament will be played from January 25 to 28, and entries for the men's and women's events close on December 15.

Pre-qualifying for the men will be held at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads next Sunday and at Belmont on Monday, January 22.

Entry forms are available at www.belmontgolf.com.au or www.wgnsw.org.au or by phoning Belmont Golf Club on 4945 4348.

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

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