The Brisbane Golf Club’s reigning Club Champion, 20-year-old Sam Slater, has won the Men\u2019s Tasmanian Open at the Kingston Beach Golf Club, south of Hobart, his second major title within two years.<\/p>\n
And to make it an especially historic event for BGC, fellow club member Sam Howse finished third, four shots in arrears.<\/p>\n
Champion Sam shot rounds of 65-73-65-66 \u2013 15 under 269 – to win by a single shot from Melbourne\u2019s Toby Walker. It follows his first major victory in the South Australian Amateur in 2020 when he beat Sydney\u2019s Josh Armstrong 5&4 in the 36-hole match play final.<\/p>\n
When he won the South Australian Amateur Sam described his victory as the \u2018biggest win and biggest thrill\u2019 of his burgeoning golf career, but puts his success at the weekend a very close second.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe South Australian field contained some big-name amateurs and, as a breakthrough win on the big stage, it will always remain very special,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut apart from my second round 73 last weekend, I played some very good golf and beat home a real talent on the fourth day. Toby and I both shot five-under bogey-free final rounds, which at Kingston Beach is pretty impressive.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a big thrill and gave me tremendous satisfaction.\u201d<\/p>\n
And ever the realist, Sam had a simple explanation for his disappointing two-over 73 on day two of the Championship \u2013 his putter did not work.<\/p>\n
When he won the 2020 South Australian Amateur, Sam announced he would turn professional \u2018when I\u2019m good enough\u2019.<\/p>\n
And now that he has won another State title following his breakthrough BGC Men\u2019s Club Championship trophy, he remains undecided where his golfing future lies.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am confident I will know when the time is right,\u201d said the coolheaded young man who moved north from Sydney with his family six years ago.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Sam has a full schedule ahead starting with the Riversdale Cup in Victoria next weekend (from Thursday, March 10). Following that is the NSW Open at Concord Golf Club, courtesy of an invitation from his equipment sponsor, Srixon, and then the Australian Amateur at Cranbourne, Victoria, at the end of the month.<\/p>\n