The Australian Amateur Championship men’s and women’s trophies – image Australian Golf Media
Inclement weather and conditions delayed play for more than two hours on day two of the Australian Amateur Championships at the Yarra Yarra and Keysborough Golf Clubs in Melbourne but by day’s end things were back on schedule and a cut made to allow both the men’s and women’s fields to return to Yarra Yarra Golf Club for the final 36 holes.
Overnight leader in the men’s division Kai Komulainen of the Emerald Lakes Golf Club on the Gold Coast lost his lead to New Zealand’s Micthell Kale whose second consecutive round of 67 has him two ahead of Komulainen with another shot back to standout Queensland amateur Quinnton Croker and American Noah Kent.
Perhaps unfortunately now being played as yet another 72 hole strokeplay event, the tournament has lost some of the gloss of yesteryear when match play prevailed but, for the winner on Friday, the title of Australian Amateur Champions will still hold a tremendous significance.
Kale, who was actually born in Queensland but who moved to New Zealand at the age of 12, has not dropped a shot in either of his two rounds at both Yarra Yarra and Keysborough and the runner-up in the 2022 New Zealand Amateur Championship to recent Asia Pacific Amateur Champion Jasper Stubbs has staked his claim to being the second New Zealander in succession to win the event following the victory by Kazuma Kobori last year.
The women’s field is jointly led by 15-year-old Amelia Harris who will have the benefit of a home ground advantage of the final 36 holes at her Yarra Yarra Golf Club, sharing the lead with Japan’s Aina Fujimoto.
South Australia’s Amelia Whinney is one shot back and alone in 3rd place.
