Date: November 03, 2017
Author: Mark Hayes

Aussies push through NZ Am

Six Australians have advanced to the match play phase of the New Zealand Amateur Championship in Christchurch.

Four men, including defending champion Louis Dobbelaar, reached the top 32 after two days of stroke play at the Russley Golf Club.

And two women, Victorian-based Queenslander Jade Shellback and West Australian state captain Georgia Shears also progressed.

Aside from the host club's Juliana Hung as medallist at one under, the majority of the women's scores were well bunched with Shellback, originally from Cairns, carding rounds of 78-77 to secure the 13th seeding.

Shears fired rounds of 79-89 to sit midfield as the 17th seed in the match play.

Impressive Jordan Garner, of New South Wales, shot rounds of 67-72 to grab the third seed and narrowly miss medal honours that went to Kiwi Scott Hellier (-8).

Dobbelaar, of Queensland, warmed to his title defence with rounds of 71-69 to grab the fifth seeding.

Victorian Tyler Wooster and Queenslander Steven Cox finished at one over and two over to go through in places 18 and 24, respectively.

The match play phase starts today.