MELBOURNE, Australia — A day after his 22nd birthday, Kazuma Kobori of New Zealand shot a 5-under 66 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur in testing conditions at Royal Melbourne.
Kim Hyun-uk of South Korea and Australians Jasper Stubbs and Billy Dowling were tied for second after 68s.
The tournament winner receives an invitation to the 2024 Masters and a spot in next year’s British Open at Royal Troon, along with being exempt from qualifying for the British Amateur.
Kobori, who is from Christchurch, continued his stellar year. He teed off on the back nine in light rain and gusty winds and made a strong start with birdies on 10, 11, 12 and 13. He was 5-under after eight holes, and went even-par for the rest of a flawless opening round.
Kobori, the world’s 30th-ranked amateur, said he would hold off turning professional if he won on Sunday on the famed sand-belt course in southeast Melbourne. The tournament winner must retain their amateur status to play the two majors next year.
If he doesn’t win, Kobori said he would turn pro next week and play the Queensland PGA in Brisbane, having won the Australasian Tour qualifying school earlier this year.
“It’s a win-win situation for me. If I win this tournament, I get the privilege of playing two major championships, and if I don’t, then I get a head start on my professional career,” Kobori said.
Kobori has been in strong form, last week becoming the second New Zealander after Phil Tataurangi in 1992 to win the individual competition at the Eisenhower Trophy.
He’s also added the Australian amateur championship and the Western Amateur championship in the U.S.
Stubbs is the New Zealand amateur champion. The 22-year-old Australian’s front nine on the composite course included four birdies from the second to the seventh holes and one bogey at the par-3 third.
“I was pretty happy out there, it was windy from the start,” said Stubbs, who is one of 13 Australian players…
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