Golf: Munn comes up just short

Manawatu amateur Joshua Munn has finished one match short of winning the Argentine Amateur tournament.

The 21-year-old, who recently became the first amateur to win two titles on the Charles Tour, lost 5 and 3 to Spain's Antoni Ferrer Mercant in the 36-hole championship match at the Estancias Golf Club today.

The match was a tight battle before Mercant, the No 10 seed, took control from the 26th hole to seal the win in the prestigious amateur championship.

After losing the first hole, the New Zealand rep responded by winning the following three holes to earn an early 2up advantage.

Mercant responded in kind with birdies on six and eight to get the match back to all square.

Munn lost his way on the back nine as he made bogeys on the 10th and 13th to gift his opponent a 2up lead.

He birdied the 14th for a win but Mercant was 2up soon after when he made birdie on the 15th and remained 2up until the break after 18 holes.

That remained the score for the next six holes as they halved every one before Mercant made a telling birdie on the seventh to jump to a 3up lead.

Munn was now under pressure and time was running out. He forced the issue and made a bogey on the ninth, or 27th hole, to see his opponent take a 4up lead with nine holes to play.

When he bogeyed the 10th the writing was on the wall for the Manawatu Golf Club member. Even though he rallied well with birdies on 11 and 13 it was too little too late and bogeys on 14 and 15 from Munn secured the win for the Spaniard.

Munn, who recently lead New Zealand to a runner-up finish at the Juan Carlos event in Argentina alongside Canterbury rep Jordan Bakermans, had a fine week at the Estancias Golf Club as the 28th seed.

He beat Argentine Francisco Goicoechea Ruiz 4 and 3 in round one, Ireland's Richard O'Donovan at the 20th hole, Marcos Montenegro 6 and 4, Alejandro Tosti 1up and Canadian Garret Rank 2 and 1 to make the final.

Fellow Kiwi Bakermans, from the Christchurch Golf Club, was knocked out by Rank in the quarter-finals 1up.

Munn is currently traveling to the Clearwater Golf Club in Christchurch where he'll be one of a number of amateurs looking to upstage the professional field at the New Zealand Open.

 

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