Jye Halls and Jeneath Wong have consolidated their positions on top of the Australian Junior Amateur Championship leaderboards at Gold Creek Country Club.
The pair now lead by four shots after a day when more than a few in the field struggling with the frigid winds which turned the Gold Creek Country Club course into a tiger.
Hall was resolute, carding an impressive three-under 69, which included a stunning birdie/eagle finish on a day when par was a premium.
Victorian Nathan Page and South Australian Nicholas Siegmund lead the boys’ chasing pack at five under, with Jeffrey Guan, the runner-up at the Aussie Amateur in February, another shot back in fourth.
The quietly spoken Hall, however, is still the player to beat. Not one to mince words, the 16-year-old was pretty satisfied with his efforts post-round.
“It was tough out there and it got a bit cold, but I played alright,” the 16-year-old smiled. “I got off to a pretty good start. I was two-under after nine and three under after ten.”
“I had a few late bogies. I struggled a bit, but I hit a pitching wedge to about two feet on the 8th (his 17th) and made it.
“Then on the last, I hit a good drive and a six-iron from about 180 metres to 15 feet. I hit a pretty good putt, and it went straight in.
“Birdie-eagle was a good way to finish. It will give me a bit of confidence for tomorrow.”
Jeneath Wong made the best of her late tee time, extending her overnight lead to four shots after carding an even-par 72.
Queensland’s Justice Bosio struggled in the morning winds, carding a two-over 74, while Western Australian Sheridan Clancy kept her cool in the afternoon half of the draw, adding an even-par 72 to sit alongside Bosio at one under.
Wong was still happy to be in the lead on a day when scoring was hard.
“It was a very different course today, very windy, very tough, totally different from yesterday.
“I tried to play more conservatively, just play for the centre of the green, but it didn’t go to plan on a few holes.”
The 16-year-old said she felt it would take a strategic approach to claim the championship should the conditions remain as tough as they were today.
“You really have to play one shot at a time and not go at the pins too often.
“You definitely need to be patient here,” she smiled.