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Anthony Quayle (Queensland) is the outright leader of the Oates Vic Open this evening thanks to an exceptional second round score of six-under par.
His overall score (-9) has temporarily edged out the campaigns of both Peter Wilson (Victoria) and Nick Flanagan (New South Wales) who was the star of the afternoon fixture.
“I got off to a good start and I got some lucky breaks on the front nine,” Flanagan recalled.
“There were a few chip-ins that went a bit fast so they could have gone either way.”
The 33-year-old remained modest as the leading New South Welshman ahead of last year’s winner Dimitrios Papadatos (currently three-under par).
“I was a bit scrappy compared to yesterday but I just got it done in the end,” he added.
“I could have been a bit more aggressive on the back nine but I shot one over on the back which was pretty good in the end.”
When comparing the top three at the halfway mark of the competition, Quayle’s youthful optimism will be added by the wisdom of his new mentor.
“I felt pretty comfortable because I’ve got Scott Bent on the bag this week and he helped heaps out there, it was good to have a professional on the bag,” Quayle said.
“I feel like I’ve had a few solid rounds in big events now and I just have to keep reiterating to myself that I can play well in really good fields.
“You take confidence each time you shoot from that sort of score and you can get that low throughout the round.”
Quayle found himself in a similar position following opening two rounds of last year’s Emirates Australian Open before finishing 19th overall.
And in the short space of two months he has been able to add a few more impressive milestones to commence his 2018 season.
“After a nice Australian Open I went up to Japan tour school and finished fourth in the finals.
“Then I went to Bali and proposed to my girlfriend, it has been a pretty whirlwind couple of weeks.”
In the amateur plot Matias Sanchez has pinched the lead with an overall score of five-under par.
David Micheluzzi (Victoria) held an early lead before three late bogeys saw the 21-year-old finish a stroke behind Sanchez.