NSWAm: Tough task ahead as second round begins

ROUND Two of the NSW Amateur is underway at St. Michael’s and The Coast Golf Clubs.

Play resumed at 6.30 am after being abandoned yesterday evening due to lightning with about 60 players spread over both courses completing their rounds.
With the weather a complete contrast to the opening day, round two is proving to be a tougher challenge for most, with several players struggling with the strengthening north-easterly breeze.

Victorian Andre Lautee, medallist at last week’s Australian Amateur, has carded one of the the low rounds of the morning at St. Michael’s, a two under par 70 to be outright second at five under.

St. Michael’s Harrison Crowe has carded the equal-low round of the day, a four-under 67 at The Coast to vault into a tie for 3rd alongside Kiwi Jayden Ford and India’s Shubham Jaglan, who have just begun their afternoon round.

Another Kiwi James Hydes has carded the morning’s equal best round, matching Crowe’s four-under-par 66. He is currently in a six-way tie for 6th at three under.
The Vintage’s Corey Lamb has also made a move, adding a handy three under 67 to be one of those tied for 6th.

With afternoon play now underway, it is Jed Morgan they are all chasing. The freshly minted Australian Amateur Champ has got his second round off to a flyer, with three birdies in his first five holes to get to seven-under.

The Top 32 cut for the matchplay rounds looks likely to fall between one and two over, but with the north-easterly expected to freshen as the afternoon progresses, it could drift out even further.

The Women’s’ NSW Strokeplay Championship’s second round is also underway at The Coast, and it looks likely to be a battle between St. Michael’s duo Stephanie Kyriacou and Kelsey Bennett, and reigning British Women’s Amateur Champion Emily Toy.

Kyriacou has made an early move, however, as she grabbed an early birdie on the 11th to jump out to a three shot lead.