Young Australian golfer Shae Wools-Cobb has taken a big step toward claiming a dream start in next year's Masters after a blistering start to the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in New Zealand.
Fifth-ranked in a strong Australian contingent at No.57 in the world amateur standings, Wools-Cobb seized a four-shot lead on Thursday's opening day with an eight-under-par 63 at Royal Wellington GC.
The 21-year-old Queenslander carded an eagle and seven birdies against a lone bogey to lead from countryman Min Woo Lee, the Philippines' Lloyd Jefferson Go, Japan's Sean Maruyama and New Zealander Nick Voke who posted 67s.
"I had so much fun out there and it was pretty stress-free. I really enjoyed my day and, hopefully, I can do much the same in the last three rounds," Wools-Cobb said.
"I holed some pretty good putts on the 10th and 11th and then hit it pretty close on 12, so that was a nice way to kick off the round.
"For the eagle, I didn't hit the greatest drive, but it was down the middle. I didn't really know if I wanted to go for the green, but I had to man up, then hit three-wood to 20 feet and holed a really nice putt.
"I hit some good shots on my second nine to keep the momentum going," said Wools-Cobb.
Lee, 34th in the world amateur rankings, put to bed any pre-event concerns he had about having his coach Ritchie Smith as his caddie by carding seven birdies against three bogeys.
"I was a little worried about how it would go at first but, luckily, it turned out really well. I thought we worked pretty well together," said the 19-year-old Lee, who was in no rush to catch his compatriot.
"Shae did have a good round, but I am going to stick to my game plan and not try to catch him.
"You don't win it on Thursday; you only lose it on Thursday. I still have three more rounds so I will see how I go."
Wools-Cobb and Lee are attempting to follow in the footsteps of countrymen Curtis Luck (2016) and Antonio Murdaca (2014), who won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and collected the coveted winner's prize - a start in the Masters at Augusta National the following year.
Wools-Cobb, who reached the last 16 in this year's US Amateur, equalled his career-low round with his 63.
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