History of the Australian Open_

  奥运英语 更新：2007-2-9 阅读：  

History of the Australian Open_

ey had again made news that made its way around the globe, displaying that whilst he may not yet have developed consistency, he was most certainly the real thing.

　　In 2001 the Open was played at The Grand on Queensland'

s Gold Coast - the first time the event had ever been held outside of a state capital city. It was also the year Stuart Appleby, Australia's sentimental golfing hero, finally won his country's Open Championship. He'd been close a few times, most notably when he finished a shot behind Greg Chalmers in 1998, but 2001 proved to be his time and he did it in style. His closing 65 equalled the lowest round of the week and left him three clear of runner-up Scott Laycock - South Africa's world-number-4 Ernie Els was two shots further back in third.

　　2002 took us back to Victoria Golf Club for an event with more than its fair share of drama. After the cancellation of the first day's play due to unplayable greens, an outstanding championship unfolded from which local star Stephen Allan, playing courtesy of an AGU exemption, eventually emerged victorious. In a tense finale, the former German Open champion was able to hold off the fast-finishing trio of Parry, Baddeley, and reigning US PGA champion Rich Beem to win by a single stroke.

　　In 2003 the magnificent Open Course at Moonah Links made its debut on the international stage. Highly praised by the senior R&A officials in attendance, Moonah also produced a fitting champion - New South Welshman Peter Lonard. After a final afternoon that saw Lonard and Stephen Leaney engaged in a dual which was constantly threatened by the combined challenges of young Queenslander Chris Downes, 1983 champion Peter Fowler, and charismatic 2002 US Amateur champion Ricky Barnes, it was Lonard who emerged to secure the most precious victory of his career.

　　Last year, 100 years on from the tournament's humble beginnings at The Australian Golf Club's old Botany Course, the club's current, and somewhat more regal, home at Kensington played host. It was the 16th time The Australian had been the Open venue and, not for the first time, it took more than just a few prisoners. Only the high-quality quartet of Rod Pampling, Steven Bowditch, Stuart Appleby, and Peter Lonard finished the Centenary championship under the card, and in a tense finish, two shots was all that separated them. Ultimately though, after Appleby's 10-foot birdie putt at the last slid by, it was Lonard who outlasted them all to retain his title. But what of the next chapter? How will that read? Will one of the young guns, such as the 2003 US Amateur champion, Nick Flanagan, write the script? Or maybe the dynamic Aaron Baddeley will secure a third Open gold medal. Perhaps Craig Parry will finally record what would be a highly-popular and emotional win. Or will Stuart Appleby or Robert Allenby record a second Open success? Or maybe Peter Lonard will outlast them all and extend his reign as Australian Open champion. Whatever does happen, the one certainty is that 2005 is sure to add further drama to the rich history of Australian golf's holy grail

上一页  [1] [2] [3]