Ryan Chisnall is part of the first round lead
(Golf Zealand Photo)
VICTORIA, Australia (January 17, 2017) -- The
analysis of just how good an opening 67 at
Kingswood will only be made after a round at Yarra
Yarra on Wednesday.
That’s the takeaway after a rash of low scores at
the Peninsula Kingswood club’s course today to begin
the men’s Australian Amateur Championship,
presented by Swinging Skirts.
Three men – New Zealand’s Ryan Chisnall,
Victoria’s William Heffernan and West Australian
Kiran Day – share top billing after carding 5-under
rounds at Kingswood, where 20 of the 21 sub-par
scores were returned.
Only New South Wales bolter Kieren Jones found
himself in red numbers at Yarra Yarra, his 69 good
for 1-under on a course with two traditional par-5s
playing as par-4s this week.
Jones, 20, was excited to have played his way
into a share of 14th, but wasn’t sure how his return
to Kingswood would go tomorrow, despite him
having a statistical edge over much of the field.
“I didn’t play very well there last year,” Jones
said without specifying a number because he didn’t
return after a long weather delay.
“Let’s just say it wasn’t going very well,” he only
half-joked.
“I didn’t like that track the best last year, but
I’m looking forward to it tomorrow … got to go back
over there and tear it up.”
Jones, a scholarship member at Killara Golf Club
north of Sydney, but whose home track is Shelly
Beach north of Gosford, has never been in such a
position at a top-tier event, but is happy with his
form.
“It’s not too bad, I feel well, hit it pretty solid off
the tee and even holed a couple of putts for once,”
he said.
“It would mean a lot (to advance to the top 64
tomorrow). I haven’t made too many match plays
before, so it would be good to get in amongst it and
see how far I can go.”
Remarkably, none of the leading trio made a
bogey at Kingswood, and only a single blemish by
the in-form Dylan Perry cost him a share of top
billing.
World No. 6 amateur Scott Gregory, the British
Amateur champ from England, also found his touch
on Tuesday with a 3-under 69 at Kingswood to sit in
a group tied
for fifth including David Boote, of Wales.
Another Welshman, Owen Edwards found his
groove at Yarra Yarra with an even-par 70 to be well
placed after mixing four birdies with four bogeys.
Most of the fancied Aussies are still in the mix,
but there was indifferent news for the top-ranked
Australian
duo expected to be in the mix.
New South Wales stars Harrison Endycott (75)
and Travis Smyth (77) both left themselves work
ahead when they switch to Yarra Yarra on
Wednesday, while emerging Queenslander Charlie
Dann also battled to a 76 at the statistically easier
course.
The top 64 after tomorrow’s second round of
stroke play advance to the match play phase set to
begin Thursday.
ABOUT THE
Australian Men's Amateur
The Australian Men's and Women's
Amateur
Championships are Australia's oldest
Amateur
Golf Championships, with both having
been
played since 1894. Long held as a match play event,
in 2021 the format changed to 72 holes
of stroke play.
View Complete Tournament Information