Darcy Brereton continues to lead at Royal Melbourne Golf Club
(Golf Victoria Photo)

Brereton began his second round at Royal Melbourne Golf Club with a birdie on No. 1 but dropped shots with consecutive bogeys on Nos. 3 and 4 to fall to 1-over for the day and 4-under for the tournament. However, the bogey on the 4th would be the Australians last of the round and after settling down with four consecutive pars he played the six holes stretch from Nos. 9-14 in 4-under to regain his hold on the tournament. The birdies during the stretch came on Nos. 9 and 10, 13 and 14.

Through two rounds Brereton has played the six hole stretch from No. 9 to No. 14 in 7-under, carding seven birdies and no bogeys.

Last year Brereton was able to record points in four Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Ranking events with his best finish coming at The Dunes Medal where he shared fifth. Brereton had his best Australian Masters of the Amateurs finish in 2015 when he shared eighth.

American junior golfer Canon Claycomb (Bowling Green, KY) is sitting in second place six shots back at 2-under while Shintaro Ban (UNLV) and Australian David Micheluzzi are sharing fourth at 1-under.

In fifth place with an even-par tally is Phillip Knowles (North Florida).

Min Woo Lee, Australis'a highest-ranked amateur and a former U.S. Junior champion, is sixth at 1-over. Lee carded an even-par 71 in the second round.

Reigning Australian Amateur champ Matias Sanchez dropped to 6-over and he is in 19th place after 36-holes.

Last year's Master of the Amateurs champion Charlie Dann of Australia is 8-over and in 33rd place.

ROUND ONE RECAP

On a day where only four players broke par it is Darcy Brereton leading the way at the Australian Master of the Amateurs following a first round 5-under 66.

Playing at at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, the Australian native got off to a shaky start with a 2nd hole bogey but after settling down with a par on the next hole he played flawless golf the rest of the way. Brereton carded his first two birdies on Nos. 4 and 5 before going on to roll in birdies on Nos. 7, 9, 10 and 14 to take the lead into the first night.

A trio of Americans are right behind the Australian with three rounds to go. Shintaro Ban (UNLV) and junior golfer Canon Claycomb (Bowling Green, KY) are tied for second at 2-under while in fourth is Dylan Meyer (Illinois) at 1-under.

Fifth place is being shared by five others at level par including Nick Hardy (Illinois) and 2016 NCAA Division II Individual Champion Hugo Bernard of Canada.

Min Woo Lee, Australis'a highest-ranked amateur and a former U.S. Junior champion, is tied for 9th after an opening 1-over 72.

Reigning Australian Amateur champ Matias Sanchez shot a 2-over 73 and is in the 14th spot.

Last year's Master of the Amateurs champion Charlie Dann of Australia shot a 3-over 74 to sit in 21st.