PALMERSTON NORTH - Queenstown golfer Jim Lapsley brought an unexpected and abrupt halt to the run of Australian Michael Sim at the New Zealand amateur championship here today.
Top qualifier Sim, who won the national strokeplay title yesterday by a commanding 11 shots, was eliminated 6 and 5 in the first round of matchplay by Lapsley.
Lapsley, who survived a playoff yesterday to qualify 32nd and last, was in command throughout after teeing off early and reached the turn 4 up after a birdie three on the ninth hole.
He remained in charge, lengthening his advantage to five holes on the 10th when Sim missed a five-foot putt for par.
Lapsley ended the contest on the 13th with a birdie three after Sim veered slightly left off the tee and was left with an awkward stance beside a thick tree trunk.
It was a wretched day for Sim as little went right for the West Australian, including a missed two-foot putt on the seventh which would have won him the hole.
Australian Marc Leishman was equally as dominant over compatriot Nathan Uebergang, winning their contest 6 and 5 on a fine morning while New Zealand representative Josh Geary, of Mt Maunganui, advanced after being four-under the card in beating Paraparaumu's Ryan Leslie 2 and 1.
Australian Andrew Dodt joined them in the second round after seeing off Auckland's Kevin Chun 4 and 3, Troy Ropiha, of New Plymouth, was too slick for Christchurch's Brad Stuart, winning 6 and 5, and Rotorua schoolboy Danny Lee, 14, belied his age to eliminate Australian Kurt Carlson 3 and 2.
Aucklander Franz Schwanner pulled off a surprise 1 up victory over Te Aroha's Mathew Holten after posting birdies on each of the last three holes, including a downhill 45-foot putt on the 18th which would have run off the green had it not found the hole.
New Zealand international Jae An, of Rotorua, was pipped 1 up by Christchurch's Andrew Searle, who birdied the 17th and 18th, while An's national teammate Brad Iles, of Tauranga, but playing out of the Manor Park club in Wellington, had no such problems in seeing off Matamata's Richard Wright 5 and 4.
Mitchell Brown of Australia had his nose in front all the way to eliminate Aucklander Scott Johnson 3 and 2, and Taupo's Jason McIntosh overpowered Ben Guilford, of Rotorua, 6 and 5.
Southlander Todd Sinclair booked a berth in the second round courtesy of a 4 and 2 win against Ewan Westergaard of Manawatu and Australian Justin Maker prevailed 2 and 1 after a tight contest with Aucklander Leighton James.
Another Australian to progress was Adam Porker, runner-up in the strokeplay championship, after a 1 up result over Wellington's David Sherborne, while another Wellingtonian, Perry Hayman, beat Auckland's Andy Gang 1 up and Australia's Tom Davis saw off Travis O'Connell, of Auckland, 2 up.
- NZPA
Golf: Quick exit for champion Australian
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