Australian Stieger tells how beer ban cost him dear
Ferrier and Mcdonald carry home hopes
Friday 22 June 2012 THE Saltire is still flying thanks to Paul Ferrier and Jack McDonald, but an Australian provided the main talking point as the 117th Amateur Championship reached the quarter-final stage at Royal Troon.
After beating compatriot Daniel Nisbet to set up a last-eight clash with Ferrier this morning, Matthew Stieger, from Sydney, had quite a story to tell.
Earlier this year – on the day of his 21st birthday – Stieger was playing in the Australian Foursomes and afterwards had a drink to celebrate.
Unfortunately for him, Golf Australian enforces a strict no drinking policy with its players and, as a result of that, Stieger was handed a six-month ban by the national organisation.
It meant Stieger has had to fund this trip to Britain – he has also played in the Scottish Stroke Play and St Andrews Links Trophy in recent weeks – which has cost him around £5,000.
“I didn’t think it was a big thing at the time,” recalled Stieger. “A couple of club members at that event just bought me a beer. It was my birthday as well and I thought it would be okay.
“It got back to the officials and then, bang, I got this big slap on the wrists. I did protest, but it is there in writing and I accepted the decision. They say there has to be sacrifices if you want to make it in this game. And, if I win this, at least I can enjoy a few beers.”
Ferrier will hope that Stieger is drowning his sorrows tonight while he is still in the title hunt instead.
Based on his efforts so far on the Ayrshire coast, that is cer- tainly a possibility as the 23-yearold Baberton player accounted for two useful opponents yesterday in Dane Victor Henum and Italian Lorenzo Scotto.
In the latter, the former Scottish Boys’ champion clinched victory in style with a 35-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole.
“My mate shouted so loudly there was not doubt it was in,” said Ferrier, who reckons the recent psychology degree he gained at UNC Charlotte is proving useful on the golf course.
“It helps you with the visualisation of shots and also treating every one the same,” he added. “I’m happy to be in the quarterfinals but not surprised as I have belief in myself.”
The winner on Saturday will earn spots in The Open, The Masters and US Open in the next 12 months and Ferrier will have a tough decision to make if they are claimed by him.
“It’s a good life in America, on and off the course, and I’ll go back in August barring anything unforseen,” he said. “Stage one of PGA Tour School is at Irish Creek in Charlotte, which is like our home course and I’ll probably give that a try.”
McDonald, who faces England’s Toby Tree in his quarterfinal clash, dug deep in both his matches yesterday for the Barassie 19-year-old to keep alive his hopes of winning the amateur game’s blue ribbon event on his own doorstep.
In the morning, he won at the sixth extra hole then, in the afternoon, he bravely held on for a last-green success against Irishman Rory McNamara.
“It’s been a lot of golf today but it’s worth it,” said McDonald, a former Scottish Boys’ Stroke-Play champion. He’s undoubtedly the player the locals want to win. “The support from the crowd had meant a lot,” he acknowledged.
Tree could prove difficult to cut down, though. The Worthing player hammered Welsh youngster Rhys Pugh in his thirdround match, then followed up with another impressive display to beat American Tyler Raber.
Also still in the title hunt is Alan Dunbar, a member of last year’s winning Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen. An impres-
Picture:R&A via Getty Images sive morning over Dane Patrick Winther in the morning, the Irishman staved off a fightback by Paul Barjon, the Frenchman who won the Scottish Stroke Play Championship at Barassie recently, in their last-16 clash.
Dunbar now takes on Swede Robert Karlsson – not the Ryder Cup player, of course – while the remaining quarter-final involvesSpaniardJacobPastorand Austrian Matthias Schwab.
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