“Everything just worked today,” said Axelsen, a University of Florida sophomore, who won the Danish Amateur in 2017 and 2018. “I was going up to the ball and just feeling like this is going to be close.”
Robin Dawson began with six birdies in his first 11 holes on his way to a 7-under 65 and John Murphy and Conor Purcell posted identical 3-under 69s. World No. 10 Dawson won the 2018 Irish Amateur Open and was runner-up at the Amateur and European Amateur earlier this year.
“We knew coming into the week it was going to be a big birdie fest,” said Dawson, an equine business graduate from nearby Maynooth University. “It helps drive us on every time. When you make one [birdie] you want to make another one. I think making a lot of birdies is key out here and going low.”
India and Switzerland shared third place at 9 under, followed by New Zealand and Japan in fifth at 7 under and Thailand, Spain, England, Portugal and Republic of Korea tied in seventh at 6 under.
Defending champion Australia was tied for 23rd at 3 under.
The U.S. left itself with some ground to make up. Justin Suh, No. 2 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Rankings, put up a 3-under 69 while Western Amateur champion Cole Hammer added 1-under 71. At 4 under as a team, the Americans are eight shots off the lead.
The hunt for the #Eisenhower 🏆 is on in Ireland at #WATC2018! The USA 🇺🇸 had a solid performance on the first day of competition. 👀 where they finished up ⬇️https://t.co/L8y8iNRoTX pic.twitter.com/UqQQWZ4sU6
— USGA (@USGA) September 5, 2018