Kausman triumphs in a matchplay thriller
MACCABI stalwart Ashley Kausman produced a tremendous display to record back-to-back victories in the Maccabi Matchplay final, coming back from the brink to win his fourth title in a playoff hole against Michael Burd.
MACCABI stalwart Ashley Kausman produced a tremendous display to record back-to-back victories in the Maccabi Matchplay final, coming back from the brink to win his fourth title in a playoff hole against Michael Burd.
The 51-year-old trailed by three points after 15 holes, before winning the final four to record a narrow win.
“It’s taken a while to sink in,” Kausman told The AJN.
“I was never up until the final shot of the day, so when he missed there was a bit of mixed emotion knowing I had won and he did so well.”
“For some reason, this is the only major Maccabi event I win, but I just love the format.”
Having previously won the event in 2008, 2010 and 2012, it looked as though he would be denied another title after trailing by three points early on.
Burd continued his consistent form, with his superb short game maintaining his advantage after eight holes.
Kausman finally hit his strides on the ninth, winning the first of two consecutive holes to reel in the deficit.
However, Burd hit back at the 12th to extend his margin, before Kausman found himself in the bunker on the 13th and 14th holes, lucky to share the points.
It looked as though Burd had both hands on the trophy when he sunk a birdie on the 15th to blow the lead back out to three.
But Kausman won the 16th, 17th and 18th in a dazzling display, setting up a thrilling finish on the deciding playoff hole.
With everything on the line, the eventual champion was able to bogey the last hole, before watching on as Burd agonisingly missed the deciding putt.
“Golf is a funny came,” Kausman said. “I have played a lot of really good players in-form and somehow managed to win.”
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