In the second instalment of our ‘Memorable Moments’ series, we travel back in time to 2009, when Andrew Tampion turned the form book on its head…
Tampion takes the plaudits
If how you react to adversity defines a man’s mettle, then Andrew Tampion passed the personality test with flying colours at the 2009 Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.
The affable Australian knew he needed a dynamic display, going into the week down in 35th place in the Challenge Tour Rankings.
After opening with a steady round of 70, Tampion defied the cold and blustery conditions in Puglia, southern Italy, to charge to the head of affairs at the midway stage with a best of the day round of 66.
But then disaster struck on day three, as the man from Melbourne slid down the leaderboard with a dispiriting round of 75.
With his hopes of securing a place in the all-important top 20 hanging by a thread, Tampion endured a sleepless night on the eve of the final round. But he soon made light of his lethargy with a brace of morale-boosting birdies early on.
With confidence restored, Tampion maintained his momentum until the 18th green, where he was faced with a birdie putt from 15 feet which would secure victory, and with it a place on The European Tour.
But it was not to be, as the putt shaved the hole, forcing Tampion to endure a sudden-death play-off with Peter Whiteford. The Scot would eventually prevail with a birdie at the first extra hole, but Tampion could at least console himself with a cheque for €34,200 which moved him up 14 places to 15th in the final Rankings.
By his own admission Tampion did not make the most of his opportunities in The 2010 Race to Dubai, to the extent that he considered quitting the game altogether at the end of the year and instead joining the building trade.
But after deciding to give the game one last go, Tampion returned to Europe earlier this year and promptly won the Telenet Trophy on the Challenge Tour. He now sits in 35th place in the Challenge Tour Rankings, and will be hoping that lightning strikes twice at San Domenico Golf next week.
