Oberle, who has won four times in 2024, including the Victorian Junior Open and the Queensland Junior Amateur, burst into flames at Cranbourne this morning; The 17-year-old has a 7-under 64.
Across town at Commonwealth this afternoon, 2023 Victorian Amateur champion Phillips matched Oberle’s 7-under mark and stormed home, playing his final seven holes in 7-under format.
The pair at the top have impressive names on their tails: Harry Takis and Jye Halls, both at 6 under, with both enjoying their afternoon at Commonwealth almost as much as Phillips did on day one.
The next pair are next on the leaderboard and are in fifth place at 5 under. International duo Jake Sowden (England) and Brayden Lee (Singapore) also traded blows around the city; Sown in Commonwealth and Lee Cranbourne.
Josh Reid, Jackson Green and Frederick Walker are tied at 4 under, ahead of a large group of 11 players who are one further back at 3 under.
Starting at 10 a.m. at Cranbourne, Oberle went to work early, carding six birdies on his outside nine and looking to shake up the course record.
“I felt like I could have had a lot less than I had, but yeah, I’m still happy with my game,” Oberle said.
“I just made some easy pars because the holes got a little bit more difficult. I could have had more, but that’s golf.”
Only a single birdie by Oberle put him at 7 under, but hiding any shortcomings on his card was just as deft on a course where he had little experience.
Having competed in the Sandbelt Invitational late last year, Oberle has seen the newly renovated Commonwealth and is excited to return there and continue his activities.
“I’m excited about the redemption,” Oberle said. “I didn’t play very well in Sandbelt; I didn’t really know where the course was going, but I had a good practice round yesterday.
“I feel very good knowing that I did almost everything I could to get a good start, so I’m very happy.”
In a complete opposite move to the Commonwealth, Phillips found par after the first 11 holes before embarking on a winning streak that lasted for the ages.
“I hit a close 12 from a bunker in the fairway and that put me behind some bad carts mid-round,” Phillips said.
“Then I made an eagle hole shot from about 30 feet on hole 13 and thought, ‘Yep, here we go.’
“He hit it a little closer, made a few putts and it ended up being seven.”
Having won the Melbourne Sandbelt by claiming the Victorian Amateur title at Victoria Golf Club, Phillips will be looking to build on that experience as the week progresses.
Phillips, who plays at Concord Golf Club in Sydney, also revealed he made a significant change before this week that already appears to be paying off.
“I changed my putter grip. For the first time in my life, I lowered my left hand low. I also changed my putter,” he said.
“I think I spent about four or five hours on the green at Concord a few days ago to try and get it right.”
– Patrick Taylor
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