MELBOURNE, Australia – Antonio Murdaca of Australia shot a 4-under 68 to lead the Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Championship after two rounds by a shot from compatriot and overnight leader Todd Sinnott on Friday.
Murdaca had five birdies and a bogey at Royal Melbourne to take his two-round total to 7-under 137, edging Sinnott, who followed his first-round 67 with a 1-under 71.
The 20-year-old Sinnott, who plays on the pennants team for Metropolitan, another sand-belt course nearby, held a share of the lead until he bogeyed his final hole, finishing a mixed round with an eagle, two birdies and three bogeys.
Thailand's Tawan Phongphun and China's Jin Cheng were two shots further back in a tie for third place with two-round totals of 140, 4-under par.
The 2012 champion, Guan Tianlang of China, was among a group of four players tied for fifth place at 3-under 141. Guan struggled for consistency and had six bogeys and five birdies in a 1-over 73.
He was still a shot ahead of Australian amateur champion Ryan Ruffels, whose back-to-back rounds of 71 left him alone in ninth place at 2 under.
U.S. amateur champion Yang Gunn of South Korea followed his first-round 81 with a 1-over 73 to finish a shot inside the cut line at 10 under.
The Asia-Pacific winner gets a spot in the U.S. Masters next year, and is exempt into the final stage of qualifying for the British Open.
