Golf: McCall leading Kiwi in qualifying for Australian Amateur

Vaughan McCall holds a share of fourth place after round one of qualifying for the Australian Amateur tournament. Photo / Getty Images

Gore golfer Vaughan McCall is the best of the Kiwis after round one of qualifying for the Australian Amateur tournament after an even par 72 at the Huntingdale Golf Club.

The Southland number one holds a share of fourth place, three shots back from the New South Welshman Matthew Wittenberg who shot a three-under 69 down the road at the Woodlands Golf Club in hot and windy conditions.

Qualifying for the Australian Amateur is being shared by two of the highly-rated courses on the Victorian Sand Belt in Huntingdale and Woodlands with the top 64 players from 36 holes of stroke play progressing to the main event.

Auckland rep Jonathan Ratcliffe and Waikato number one Mathew Perry (both 76 at Huntingdale) are the next best of the Kiwis in a share of 30th place as the New Zealand golfers struggled on day one.

Takaka golfer Blair Riordan, also at Huntingdale, had a five-over 77 to be in a share of 46th place.

New Zealand number one Ben Campbell, who finished runner up in the event in 2010 and 2011, is in danger of missing the top 64 who qualify for the match play after he shot a six-over-par 78 to be in a share of 63rd place.

Manawatu rep Joshua Munn, who won the Muriwai Open on the Charles Tour last year, is on the same number while Cameron Jones (79) and Sam An (82) also battled in the wind.

World number one amateur Lydia Ko, Cecilia Cho and Chantelle Cassidy are the best of the Kiwi women after round one of qualifying for the Australian Amateur.

Ko, who missed the Lake Macquarie Cup last week to be ready for a busy schedule of tournaments in Australia, shot a three-over-par 76 at Huntingdale to be tied sixth.

Down the road at Woodlands, Cho and Tokoroa's Cassidy matched that number to be four shots back from Ashlee Dewhurst of Tasmania who shot a one under 72 at Woodlands.

Wellington number one Julianne Alvarez had a six over 79 at Huntingdale to be in tied 16th place while the Waikato reps Emily Perry and Sarah Bradley, who led the way last week at the Lake Macquarie Cup, struggled with 81 and 84 respectively.

Perry is tied 24th and Bradley tied 39th and in danger of missing the match play where for the women the top 32 qualify for the main event.