Blake Windred leads by one shot after two rounds of the Asia-Pacific Amateur in Shanghai.
The 21-year-old had an up and down second round of 71 to go with his course record-setting opening 63.
Korean Jun Min Lee and Japan’s Ren Yonezawa are in second place. The pair have shot identical rounds of 68 and 67 to be lead the chasing pack.
Windred said the key to his round was patience, adding the putts didn’t drop as they did for him during the first round.
” I hit a lot of good putts out there that just didn’t want to drop, and obviously I didn’t do as well as yesterday, but I’m so pleased with the way I stayed very patient,” he said.
The lead could well have been sitting with the Japanese, and Korean pair had it not been for Windred’s withering burst over his final three holes. Birdies on the 8th and 9th were critical in ensuring he kept his lead.
“That finish,” he smiled. “Basically on the 8th I just hit a perfect drive, and every shot on that hole was just absolutely to tee.
“Walking in between 8 and 9, I said to my caddie, “If there’s
anything I can take away from today, definitely the way I played the 8th hole is perfect for me.”
Windred was especially impressed with his clutch second shot on the ninth, his final hole.
“I went a little bit too hard with a 3-wood and went in that trap. I had 175 flag. I practised that shot a lot, actually. I’ve worn out my 6-iron pretty much.
“But yeah, I just hit a perfect 6-iron from 175 and left myself with a 15-footer, and I was kind of .well, not expected to make birdie at that hole.
“It’s a little joke between me and my caddie; I said, “Let’s just finish it off
here.”
“I was very happy with that (birdie), and to shoot under par with the way I played today, I’m super happy.”
Monash Country Club’s Nathan Barbieri ensured he would be playing on the weekend at his first Asia PAcific Amateur with a second-round 74. He sits in a tie for 18th position alongside two Koreans, Two Chinese, a Thai and fellow Australian Pre Karl Vilips.