18 Jan 2020 | National Championships |

Silent assassin Putri in #AusAm final

by Kirsty Wrice

Mela Putri during the Australian Women's Amateur semi finals at Royal Queensland.
Mela Putri during the Australian Women's Amateur semi finals at Royal Queensland.

SEMI FINAL RESULTS

If anyone deserves their place in the Australian Women’s Amateur final at Royal Queensland tomorrow, it’s 32-seed and giant killer Mela Putri.

The Indonesian took down NSW star Grace Kim 2&1 in their afternoon semi final at Royal Queensland on Saturday to join England's Charlotte Heath in Sunday's decider.

After a marathon 110 holes in five days, Putri is 36 holes from lifting the Australian Amateur title.

Putri's week began with rounds of 75-74, the 22-year-old finding herself in a three-for-two playoff which she escaped, snatching the final match play spot after two sudden death holes.

The meant Putri faced in-form medalist and reigning British Amateur champion Emily Toy first up, a match she coolly won 3&2.

The Purdue alumni sent New Zealand’s Carmen Lim packing with a 1-up victory but her biggest scalps came today.

Putri accounted for home favourite – and arguably Australia's in-form female amateur – Cassie Porter 3&2 before knocking off rising star Kim this afternoon.

Kim, who hails from Avondale Golf Club in Sydney, took the early advantage, going 1-up after three holes.

But that would be the last time the No.4 seed possessed the lead as Putri produced a putting masterclass.

Kim fought back late in the day with an approach to kick-in range on 16, Putri conceding the hole to be just 1-UP with two to play.

But, in the steady form which she has displayed all week, the World No.186 kept her cool, sinking a seven-foot birdie try on the par-3 17th to punch her ticket to the Women’s #AusAm final.

“It was pretty rough at the beginning, but then I kind of got my pace a little during the middle and managed to hold it up throughout the round,” Putri said.

“I’m enjoying my time [in Australia]. I was in Melbourne last week and it’s better weather here in Brisbane.”

Hoping to enter the record books as the first Indonesian player to win, the Bali resident said the win would mean a lot for her and the Indonesian team.

“I’ve made it to the final in a team match play but not individual so it will be another debut [tomorrow]. I didn’t have any expectations for the week but here I am!”

“We will see how it goes tomorrow, but I’m going to do my best.”

Her opponent will be World No.229 Heath, who is the lone English survivor after Charlie Strickland and Ben Jones fell in their men's semi finals this afternoon.

The Yorkshirewoman knocked out Queenslander Lion Higo and Minju Kim 3&2 today in just her second tournament since last August.

“The course is really good," Heath said, "Today it played a bit like home, wet and windy. But the week has been really good."

The men's final between Queenslander Jed Morgan and Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin will commence at 8.00am followed by the women's decider at 8.10am at Royal Queensland.

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