New Attitude Gives Townsend The Edge

Newcastle Herald

Monday November 17, 2008

By JOSH LEESON

CHARLESTOWN golfer Aaron Townsend said a new aggressive approach helped him secure the NSW Open title yesterday and he would replicate it when he attempts to win a place on the US PGA Tour.

Townsend put the finishing touches on his consistent display at The Vintage in the fourth round yesterday, extending his overnight six-stroke lead to seven by shooting 68.

The 27-year-old finished with a 17-under score of 267, ahead of Victorians Steven Jones (10-under) and Timothy Wood (eight-under).

Townsend's second-round score of four-under 67 gave him the lead, after he opened with a 63 on Thursday, and he never looked like relinquishing it.

Townsend has been runner-up five times in his professional career before his breakthrough win yesterday.

"I was really confident because I knew I was playing well and I just knew if I could keep a good attitude, I could come up with a good result," he said.

"My preparation was a little different in my attitude. I was more determined to play well right from the get-go.

"I have the tendency to be a little bit lackadaisical early on and try and play a little conservative early on in the tournament.

"This time I decided to go out and just try to birdie every hole and play aggressive golf, and I have to say, it paid off."

He opened the day with a birdie to ease the nerves after carrying a six-shot lead into the final round.

Townsend said his coach Neville Bell was behind the aggressive approach.

"It's something he's been trying to get me to play for a long time and that's one step towards doing that more often," he said.

"I think I'm getting on top of my attitude on the golf course and more confident than I was when I was younger, and I've got more belief in myself."

There was little time for Townsend to celebrate the breakthrough as he flies to the United States today to play in the second round of the US PGA qualification school.

AFP reports: India's Jeev Milkha Singh clinched the Asian PGA Tour's Singapore Open by a shot from Ireland's Padraig Harrington and South Africa's Ernie Els in a dramatic finish on Sunday.

Harrington needed to sink a two-metre putt at the last to force a play-off but pushed his shot right. Els, in the group behind, had to do the same, but his five-metre effort curled round the lip of the hole.

It gave the Indian star, on seven-under 277, his third win of the season. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Australia David Gleeson were joint fourth on 279.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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