ern Bulldogs fanatic Lucas Herbert and amateur Brett Coletta shared the early second round lead of the Isuzu Queensland Open after morning rounds of 68 and 69 respectively.
The 20-year olds were at four-under for the tournament at The Brisbane Golf Club as players battled tricky breezes.
Herbert, a second-year pro, and Coletta were teammates in the Victorian amateur team that won the 2015 Australian interstate series.
After a first round 68, Herbert started in spectacular style today and was four-under the card after his opening four holes. Hitting-off on the 10th tee, he started with a birdie, notched an eagle on the par-5, 12th hole, and then a further birdie on the par-3, 13th.
“Getting off to a great start made things a little easier,” he said. “Last night I was thinking about the golf courses and stretches of holes where you might be able to get a run going.
“On 10 the pin was pretty much in the middle of the green and I hit gap-wedge to about 10ft and made the putt.
“Then on the par-5 I hit 7-iron to 10ft for eagle and a 6-iron to inside eight feet on the par 3. Unfortunately a few birdie putts would not drop for me late in the round.”
Coletta built his round solidly after a slow start (off 10th tee) and scored a hat-trick of birdies from the 14th.
“It was quite breezy and I am delighted with my round,” he said. “After the slow start I sort of kicked in the middle … I thought it was pretty hard out there. The course is very firm.”
Coletta has shown great character to bounce back strongly after the disappointment at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Korea where he was runner-up by a stroke from Curtis Luck. A victory would have earned a start at the 2017 US Masters.
“I took positives out of the Asia-Pacific and will rate myself on what I do this week. So far, I’m quite happy with the outcome.”
Herbert watched his beloved Western Bulldogs march to grand final victory while in the United States gaining experience by attempting Monday qualifying on the Web.com Tour.
“I grew up playing with Jake Stringer (Bulldogs forward) in the Under 12s and have followed them from the early 2000s when they were nothing,” he said.
“I’d get up at 3am and watch the AFL finals on TV in America. I watched the grand-final in Los Angeles waiting for a flight to Fiji and went nuts when the Bulldogs won.”
Queensland amateur Anthony Quayle played himself into contention with a fine 68 to follow his opening round even-par 70.
Peter Lonard’s 71 yesterday has the vastly experienced campaigner well placed going into the weekend five strokes off the lead.
Overnight leader Deyen Lawson slumped to a 74 today to be at one-under while Cameron Davis, making his debut as a professional, had a 73 to be two-over for 36 holes.
“I did not play well for 14 holes but then managed to get a few putts to drop,” said Davis.