Matthew Griffin Eclipses Field To Win The Heritage Classic
Drummond Golf Ambassador Matthew Griffin produced a win for the ages claiming the Heritage Classic by a whopping six strokes. The 40-year-old Victorian scored a dominant wire-to-wire victory to end a winless stretch since claiming the 2016 New Zealand Open.
Griffin opened the event with a phenomenal 11-under 61. The flawless round on Thursday bettered the course record at the St John Course by three shots. The talented Melburnian followed his career-best score with rounds of 65, 69 and 69 to reach the incredible tally of 24-under.
Griffin started the final round with a comfortable five-shot lead over South Australia’s Jak Carter. Things tightened up early on Sunday when the leader posted a bogey at the opening hole and Carter returned a birdie at the second hole and an eagle at the fourth hole. However, Griffin, a seasonal professional remained resilient to the challenges and peeled off birdies at the 11th, 12th and 14th holes to hold a strong lead down the final stretch. The run of red numbers gave Griffin a six-shot lead that afforded him the opportunity to take in the atmosphere en route the hoisting the trophy.
“It was nice to play really well through that middle stretch of the round, and those birdies on the early part of the back nine kind of took it away from everyone else,” Griffin told media after the round.
He also reflected on his journey since his victory at the 2016 New Zealand Open.
“I’d had a number of wins in a short period of time, so I think that was win number probably five in about six years,” he said of his 2016 win. “It’s funny, they kind of happen and then you have the big break.
“I’ve had two runs of missing seven cuts and five cuts in a row, you’re only human so you start to doubt whether you’ve still got it and you’re getting a bit older.
“It’s a big confidence boost that I can still beat these guys, and to do it comfortably as well is even better.”
And, the emotional moment at the final green after the final putt dropped wasn’t lost on the young father, “Since I was a young kid watching golfers win tournaments and their kids run out, it’s a dream that you have, so to have Jack be able to be here is super, super special,” he said.
The win was Griffin’s eighth title success as a professional golfer and fourth victory on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Carter was matched at 18-under by amateur golfer Quinnton Croker. The pair enjoyed joint runner up results after Carter posted a final round 2-under 70 and Croker signed for a 4-under 68.
Final Scores
1. Matthew Griffin -24
T2. Jak Carter -18
T2. Quinnton Croker (a) -18
4. Kevin Yuan -17
T5. David Micheluzzi -15
T5. Joshua Greer -15
