Samuda lights up Amateur Champs

Junior Dowie
Men's leader Owen Samuda tees off at the 10th hole yesterday. Samuda has a 10-stroke lead over defending champion John Smith going into today's final round of the National Amateur Championships at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club.

By Tym Glaser, Associate Sport Editor

RED-HOT Owen Samuda fired a sensational five-under par 67 to all but seal the men's National Amateur Championship title at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club yesterday.

With one round to play, Samuda (70-67-137) holds a whopping 10-stroke lead over Hoerman Cup teammate and defending champion John Smith.

Samuda started yesterday birdie, birdie, par, birdie, par, birdie to kick off a near flawless round. The only blemish came at the par-five 15th which he bogeyed but that hiccup was well and truly quietened by six birdies.

"I like the way I'm playing," 32-year-old Samuda said back in the clubhouse. "I've got a lot of confidence in my game. I'm putting well and hitting the driver excellent. I'm not missing too many greens at the moment so I don't know what the chipping is like," he said. "

Smith, chasing his fourth straight national crown, has all but conceded the title to Samuda.

"I'm still going to try but it's a big ask," Smith said. "I'm going to go all out, it's all or nothing tomorrow."

In the women's section, defending champion Maggie Lyn increased her lead over Jodi Munn by two strokes.

Lyn followed her opening round 74 with a four-over 76 yesterday for a two-day gross of 150. That places her six shots clear of Munn (78-78-156).

Leiza Blakeley fired a second-round 77 to be outright third, 10 strokes behind Lyn.

Hansel Williams (76-78-154) has a handy three-shot lead over Francis Delgado (80-77-157) with Bill Telling (81-81-162) poised a further five shots back in the men's seniors.

Cynthia Tuckey has a stranglehold on the women's seniors section. Her rounds of 84 and 82 (166) see her well clear of nearest challenger Michiko Asonuma (87-92-179).

In the superseniors, Herman McDonald continued his outrageous dominance of the section with a four-under 68 and a two-round gross of 140. That sees him 14 strokes clear of nearest rival Ossie Lee.

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