Australian Master of the Amateurs: 3 share 1st round lead

MELBOURNE, Australia (Jan. 7, 2014) -- There is a real log jam at the top of the leaders’ board after today’s first round of the Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship being played at Royal Melbourne Golf Club. There were patches of sunshine throughout the day, but the gusty conditions of yesterday returned making consistent shot making difficult. Three players, Queenslanders James Gibellini and Simon Viitakangas, and Frazer Droop from Yarrawonga in Victoria share the lead on two under. But more than half the field of 53 is within four shots of the lead. New Zealander Tyler Hodge and Americans Max Buckley and Cameron Wilson are the leading internationals, just two shots behind the leaders. Among the other players defending Australian Master of the Amateurs Champion, Viraat Badhwar finished the day one over the card, while the highest ranked player in the field Jordan Niebrugge is four over. Elite amateurs from 10 countries are taking part in this tournament which includes a world cup Australia leads that competition by one shot. Warmer more settled conditions are forecast for the remaining three rounds of this championship … but on-course the heat will be turned up from 8.30 tomorrow morning as this talented field returns for round two of four to decide the “Green Jacket”: admission to Royal Melbourne is free.