Josh Armstrong
(Golf Australia)
PYMBLE, Australia (January 25, 2017) -- With a second round 2-under 69 Australian Josh Armstrong has taken the 36-hole lead at the Australian Avondale Medal Amateur. On Wednesday Armstrong, who made a run to the Round of 16 at last weeks Australian Amateur, moved to 6-under and he will lead a group of five players by two-strokes heading into Thursday's third round at Avondale Golf Club.
A bogey began the round for Armstrong but he was able to bounce back with consecutive birdies on Nos. 2 and 3 and following a 9th hole birdie he was 2-under for the front side and 6-under overall. However, disaster struck in the form of a 10th hole double-bogey that dropped Armstrong back to where he began the day.
Unfazed by the slip up, Armstrong rebounded with birdies on Nos. 13 and 17 to earn his spot at the top of the leaderboard.
The second place group at 4-under includes Charlie Dann (Australia), last weeks Australian Amateur medalist Kevin Yuan (Australia), Christopher Charlton (New Zealand), Bradley Moore (England) and first round leader Shae Wools-Cobb (Australia).
With two late bogeys Wool-Cobb shot a 1-over 72 to fall from the lead.
With 36-holes remaining 26 players are under-par and within five-strokes of the lead including World Amateur Golf Ranked No. 6 Scott Gregory of England at 3-under (T7) and recent Australian Amateur winner Matias Sanchez of Australia at 2-under (T11).
Two-time defending champion Harrison Endycott is 3-over and well back in a tie for 43rd.
A 36-hole cut was made and the top 60 players will compete in the third and fourth rounds on Thursday and Friday.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Playing at Avondale Golf Club Shae Wools-Cobb has taken the first round lead at the Australian Avondale Medal Amateur. Wools-Cobb, who is fresh off a run to the quarterfinals of the Australian Amateur, will carry a one-stroke lead into the second round following his 5-under 66 on Tuesday.
Wools-Cobb got his round started with a birdie on No. 1, which he built upon with three more front nine birdies to turn in 4-under 32. After a bit of a lull early on the backside two more birdies came on the 14th and 16th holes before the Australian dropped his only shot of the day with a bogey on the 17th.
Behind Wools-Cobb comes a large number of players still very much in the mix including four tied for second place at 4-under. The second place group includes Englishmen Jack Singh Brar and Bradley Moore, New Zealand's Henry Spring and Australian Josh Armstrong.
In all 24 players turned in under-par first rounds and will begin Wednesday's second round within four-strokes of the lead. Following the completion of the second round a cut will be made to the top 60, thus setting the stage for the final two rounds.
Amongst the group of players under-par are last weeks Australian Amateur winner Matias Sanchez (Australia) and World Amateur Golf Ranking No. 6 Scott Gregory (England). Both players turned in 1-under 70's and are part of a large group tied for 15th.
Gregory was among the 19 players named on Monday to the initial Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team.
Two-time defending champion Harrison Endycott (Australia), the 2016 Porter Cup winner, shot a disappointing first round 4-over 75.
ABOUT THE Avondale Amateur Medal
One of the top events in Australia, the Avondale
Amateur consists of a men’s field of 120 players
competing for the Avondale Medal. Players from the
UK, Europe, Asia and the Americas compete in the
event against the very best Australian players. 72 holes
of Stroke Play with a 36-hole cut to the low 60 players.
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