 John Beveridge (right) with Portsea GC captain Wayne Burgess The 42-year-old Yarra Yarra member held of talented youngster Kieran Pratt to win his third Portsea Open Amateur on the first sudden death hole. Beveridge made birdie on the opening hole at Portsea Golf Club to claim the title after storming home in the rain-affected championship with a final round 69. A stalwart of the Victorian amateur scene, Beveridge admitted he was a bit surprised by the victory. But then he went into the event with some good form. “It’s nice to know an old boy like me can still take it up to the younger guys,” he said. “I don’t do a lot of practice these days. I usually just play twice a week at Yarra. “But before this event I played with my boss at Royal Melbourne and had a strong round. “That got me thinking that I might be able to do well.” Beveridge rates Portsea one of the state’s best courses. And that’s not surprising given his track record on the beautifully prepared course. He won the Point Nepean Open when it was staged over four rounds at Portsea and Sorrento back in 1990. Two years later he did it again when Portsea Golf Club staged all four days. Beveridge, who still plays off one, is no stranger to competing at the highest level. He represented Victoria alongside Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby and his formed golfing roommate Richard Green. Beveridge turned pro in 1994 but reclaimed his amateur status soon after. The Portsea Open Amateur is widely regarded as one of Australia’s premier amateur tournaments. This year’s event had to be reduced to 54-holes after heavy rain forced organisers to cancel the Saturday round. Southern’s Kris Mueck finished third a shot back from Beveridge and Pratt while Jin Jeong of Waverley Golf Club was a further shot adrift.
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