Wellingtons Kerry Mountcastle is one win away from holding the New Zealand Amateur Championship and the New Zealand Stroke Play Championship titles at the same time with two stunning rounds at Wairakei Golf & Sanctuary.
He will face Waikatos Charlie Smail in the 36 hole final tomorrow while Koreas Kang Kum Park continued her assault in New Zealand and will play Aucklands Vivian Lu in the womens 36 hole final.
Mountcastle earnt his place in the final after taking down the countrys number one amateur and defending champion, Daniel Hillier in dominant fashion this morning, winning 5&4 before taking down the in-form Mako Thompson 4&3.
The 23-year-old is having a season to remember after also claiming the Carrus Open on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour earlier in the year. With a win tomorrow he would complete one of the more successful amateur years in some time.
"It feels amazing and I have given myself a chance to do the double which is pretty special and it cant really get much better in terms of New Zealand events," said Mountcastle.
"To do it here on one of the best courses in New Zealand that we can play on would be great. Thanks so much to Gary Lane for letting us on."
Standing in his way, Smail also reaches his first New Zealand Amateur final as he looks to achieve something that his very successful father David was unable too.
"It feels unbelievable, its hard to explain at the moment and cant really believe it," said Smail.
"Yeah its pretty funny, I dont think he ever did good in the New Zealand Amateur, but did well in the Stroke Play. Its been great to have both Mum and Dad helping out here this week.
In contrast to Mountcastle, the 20-year-old has done things the hard way with all but one of his matches coming down to the wire and needing the final hole.
"I have had close matches every round and have been down the last hole on every match except this one, so I have pretty much played as many holes as I can," laughed Smail.
"It would be an unbelievable feeling and it doesnt even feel like Im in the final yet, so it would take a while to sink in."
Hole by hole breakdown here
The leading qualifier in the womens field, Kang Kum Park has showed no signs of slowing down as the Korean advances into the New Zealand Amateur final against Aucklands Vivian Lu which means there will be four first time finalists tomorrow.
Park made a statement this morning by defeating defending champion Silvia Brunotti by a convincing 4&3 margin, before winning 3&2 over the newest Lydia Ko Scholarship recipient Carmen Lim, who has enjoyed a memorable week at the Wairakei Golf & Sanctuary.
Fellow finalist, Lu is constructing a very impressive 2018 after claiming her maiden Jennian Homes Charles Tour title at the Akarana Open in April.
The 14-year-old has added some big scalps to her resume after beating fellow Aucklanders Brittney Dryland and the in-form Siyi Keh along the way as well as Zhuoyi Hu this morning.
"It would mean a lot to win tomorrow because to win the New Zealand Amateur would be really nice and its one of the big ones, so it would complete a good year for me," said a relaxed Lu.
The Wairakei Golf & Sanctuary have been perfect hosts this week and tomorrow at the sensational venue we will witness history as one of these four players will claim the biggest win of their amateur careers.
The mens final between Kerry Mountcastle and Charlie Smail will tee off at 8:00am, followed by Kum Kang Park and Vivian Lu at 8:10am to finish things off in style.
- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Golf NZ
Mountcastle on the verge of prestigious double
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