RED HILL, Australia (November 4, 2016) -- Justin Kim took the first round of the Australian Federal Open Amateur with a 6-under 66 on Friday. Kim will now carry a two-stroke lead into the second round at the Federal Golf Club.
On the frontside Kim, who is battling a touch of the flu, turned in an 1-under 35 before getting busy on the backside. Kim birdied the 10th to jump start his run and then kicked things into high gear with an eagle on the par-5 13th, a birdie on the 15th and another on the 17th. Following an 18th hole par Kim signed for a flawless 5-under 31 back nine and a 6-under tally overall.
Kim presents a fascinating story, just ten months ago he was playing golf as a right hander. However, when he continued to struggle he talked things over with his coach Matthew Ecob and decided to try out playing as a lefty.
"I was not going so well and spoke to Matt (Ecob) about the idea of a change in playing from right to left handed." Kim said, "Once I gained my confidence, playing left handed feels just as natural as my original right handed stance."
Haydn Barron is in second place after a bogey-free 4-under 68, Charlie Dann is 3-under and in third while Austin Bautista and Luke Brown are tied for fourth at 2-under.
2016 marks the first year that a women's championship has been included in the Federal Open Amateur and currently five players are tied for the lead --Celina Yuan, Amelia Garvey, Alanna Campbell, Jihye Park and Chloe Thornton. The group is 1-over after the first round.
-The Federal Golf Club contributed to this story
Australian Federal Open Amateur: Justin Kim leads at 66
Justin Kim holds a two-stoke lead over Haydn Barron with 36-holes still to play