Ludvig Aberg (The R&A)
The conditions were ideal today at St. Annes Old Links, but Ludvig Aberg made it look easy.
Aberg leads the record 288-player field -- which features competitors from 42 countries -- by a single stroke.
He can thank his razor-sharp short game for the cushion.
Aberg, the Texas Tech golfer -- and 2022 Ben Hogan Award winner -- chipped in for eagle at the last to complete what was already a tremendous round.
Related: The 2021 AGC Men's Player of the Year: Ludvig Aberg
Aberg has some company near the top of the leaderboard -- in one of the final groups of the day, Denmark's Mathias Lorentzen posted a six-under 66 to secure second place alone.
The second round of stroke play qualifying concludes on Tuesday, with players flipping courses between Royal Lytham -- its gorgeous red brick clubhouse sitting hard and fast behind the 18th green -- and St. Annes Old Links.
In-form Swedes
“I feel like I've worked hard to get to where I am and it's more of a testament to me doing some good stuff," said Aberg. "People will obviously expect you to play well and luckily I did today.”
Another Swede, Hugo Townsend, posted a five-under 67 at St Annes Old Links in the late evening sun. The Swedish national squad is now mentored by Peter Hanson, the former Ryder Cup player.
“Peter has had such a long and successful career on the tours and his experiences together with coaching, it's just going to be great for us players,” added Aberg.
While St Annes Old Links offered more favorable scoring opportunities than the test posed by Royal Lytham & St Annes, host to The Open on 11 occasions, Scotland’s Jamie Roberts excelled over the latter to sign for a 4-under 66 – helped by two birdies in his last three holes on the demanding closing finish.
“I feel like I've worked hard to get to where I am and it's more of a testament to me doing some good stuff."
Anton Albers from Germany, Irish trio Matthew McClean, Paul Coughlan and Jack Hearn and Australian Hayden Hopewell are also at 4-under and inside the top ten after their efforts at St Annes Old Links.
How to Watch
The R&A will provide live broadcast coverage of the quarter-finals and semi-finals on Friday and the Final on Saturday. This can be watched on The R&A’s website randa.org as well as its YouTube channel.
ABOUT THE British Amateur
This championship, along with the US Amateur Golf
Championship, is considered the most important in
amateur golf.
The first stage of the Championship involves 288
players each of whom plays two rounds of 18 holes,
one to be played on each of the two courses. The 64
lowest scores over the 36 holes and ties for 64th
place will compete in the match play stage of the
Championship. Each match will consist of one round
of 18 holes except the Final which will be over 36
holes.
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