Photo: Windred in action today courtesy of AAC
New South Wales golfer, Blake Windred, added a second round of 71 to his opening round of 63 to lead the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship into the weekend at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China.
Windred, who is currently Australia’s second highest ranked male amateur golfer and is the 11th ranked amateur in the world, could not match his brilliance of day one but his one under par round gives him a one-shot lead over Japan’s Ren Yonezawa and Korea’s Jun Min Lee.
Windred, who ranks No. 11 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), started from the 10th tee and was two-over par after his first 10 holes with three bogeys and one birdie. It was an incredible par save on the seventh hole that spurred him on for the grandstand finish.
“I was two over for a lot of that round, actually. I hit a lot of good putts out there that just didn’t want to drop. Obviously, I didn’t do as well as yesterday, but I’m so pleased with the way I stayed very patient,” said Windred, who smashed a six-iron from 175 yards out of a fairway bunker on the ninth to leave himself a 15-footer that eventually gave him the edge for the weekend.”
Windred said he was delighted with his position going into the weekend.
“The goal was basically shooting five under every round. So, I have a bit of work to do over the weekend, but so far, I’m on track,” said the Aussie who will retain his amateur status if he wins the AAC title in order to remain eligible to play in the 2020 Masters and The 149th Open at Royal St George’s.”
South Australian, Jack Thompson, is the next best of the Australians in a share of 10th place at 3 under and seven shots from his fellow countryman while US based West Australian, Karl Vilips, and NSW’s Nathan Barbieri are next best at 1 under and in a share of 18th place.
The Asia Pacific Amateur Championship has grown in stature since its inception in 2009, its most notable champion in that time being the two time winner, Hideki Matsuyama, who has gone on to be one of the leading players in the game.
If Windred is able to go on and win the event he will become the third Australian to do so in the footsteps of Anthony Murdaca and Curtis Luck.
