Nakajima leads Master of the Amateurs with Wolff close behind

MELBOURNE, Australia (Jan. 8, 2018) – Keita Nakajima’s last two starts of 2018 were in professional events in Australia. This week, Nakajima, of Japan, is competing against some of the strongest amateurs from around the world – and setting the pace.

Nakajima opened the Australian Master of the Amateurs with a 6-under 66 at Royal Melbourne. He logged a birdies at the 18th hole to pull one shot ahead of Oklahoma State star Matthew Wolff.

If Nakajima’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he won the 2018 Asian Games and finished second at the Asia-Pacific Amateur. He had a steady day with just two bogeys.

As for Wolff, there were just two hiccups in a 5-under 67 – a bogey at No. 8 and a double at No. 14. The highlight of the fall for the Cowboy sophomore was going undefeated in stroke-play events. He won in each of his three starts with the team.

Justin Warren, Connor McKinney and Andre Lautee are tied for third at 4 under. Two players, James Leow and Joshua Ho, are behind that at 3 under.

Henry Shrimp, a Stanford junior, is the next-highest American after Wolff. He is part of a large group at 2 under.

Defending champion David Micheluzzi, of Australia, is another shot back at 1 under. Daniel Hillier, the U.S. Amateur stroke-play co-medalist, is also at that number.