Croker and Shinchi Australian Amateur Champions
Mamika Shinchi and Quinnton Croker – Australian Amateur Champions – image Australian Golf Media
Queensland’s Quinnton Croker and Japan’s Mamika Shinchi are the Australian Amateur Champions following the completion of their respective championships at the Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Melbourne today.
Croker, from the Royal Queensland Golf Club, has been in outstanding form in a series of professional events over the past six months or so, including when runner-up to Matt Griffin at last week’s Heritage Classic. This week he overcame a slow start to the 72-hole strokeplay event on Tuesday and would eventually win by five over last week’s Australian Master of the Amateurs Champion and recent Queensland PGA Champion, Phoenix Campbell.
Another shot back in 3rd place was local golfer Abel Eduard.
In the Women’s event, Shinchi began the final round six shots behind the 54-hole leader and local golfer Amelia Harris but a brilliant stretch of eight birdies in her final 11 holes for a best-of-the-week 66 was enough to get her home by two over Harris.
Shinchi had made up all but one of the six shot deficit through 9 holes and although the 15 year old Harris birdied her final three holes it was a case of too little too late after what had been an outstanding tournament for Yarra Yarra golfer Harris to that point.
