Ben Eccles leads early at Master of the Amateurs

MELBOURNE, Australia (Jan. 6, 2015) — Steady play sees Torquay golfer Ben Eccles with a three-shot lead after an opening round 66 at the 2015 Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship at Royal Melbourne Golf Club. The 20-year old, who won the New South Wales Amateur Championship in 2013, got off to a good start with an eagle on the par five second hole. Looking back on his impressive tournament opening, Eccles said: “It’s really nice to know that my best stands up against some of the best players in the world." Queenslander Corey Crawford, Zach Murray, and Lucas Herbert from Melbourne and the UK’s Nick Marsh, the best performed international in today’s first round, all finished the day on 69. American David Snyder, Takashi Ogiso from Japan and China’s Tianlang Guan with Australians Taylor McDonald and Fidel Concepcion all had rounds of 70 while world number four Will Zalatoris and fellow American Brian Campbell are among a group of ten players a further shot back. After today’s near perfect conditions, a very hot day is forecast for tomorrow prompting organisers to call an early tee time (7:00 am).