Kai Komulainen ties course record in opening round of Australian Masters of the Am
The first round has come and gone of the 2024 Australian Master of the Amateurs at Southern Golf Club in Keysborough, Australia.
After the opening round, Kai Komulainen and Sarah Hammett lead the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively. Komulainen tied the course at Southern Golf Club with an 8-under 64.
The Tennessee freshman recorded nine birdies and one bogey, including birdies on holes No. 15 through 18, to get into the clubhouse at 8-under.
Harry Takis is in solo second place at 7-under, while Dominic McGlinchey is in solo third place at 6-under. Cooper Moore and Kayun Mudadana are T4 at 5-under to round out the top five. 2024 Western Amateur champion Ian Gilligan is T6 at 4-under.
Komulainen made the final 32 of the 2024 NSW Men’s Amateur and led after the first round of the 2024 Australian Men’s Amateur. He finished T26 at the 2024 Australian Master of the Amateurs.
Past winners include Lukas Michel (2021), Sahith Theegala (2020), and Aaron Wise (2017).
In the women’s division, Sarah Hammet leads by two shots after an opening round 5-under 67.
Hammett, who is signed to play for USC next season, recorded five birdies, two bogeys, and an eagle. Her eagle came on a hole out on the par-4 No. 5. Raegan Denton and Ella Scaysbrook are T2 at 3-under, and Celine Chen and Gracie Larsen are T4 at 2-under.
First round highlights
ABOUT THE
Master of the Amateurs
The Master of the Amateurs, a 72-hole medal play
Championship,
has rapidly become one of the
elite championships in amateur golf. Like The
Masters, the champion
receives a Green Jacket. Contestants
participate in the first round of the
championship with professional golfers in a
unique Am-Pro Invitational.
The Master of the Amateurs winner gets an
invitation to the Porter
Cup in the U.S. Likewise the winners of those
two tournaments receive invitations to the
next Master of the Amateurs tournament.
A qualifying round (see tournament
website for date and handicap requirement)
allows
three non-exempt players to earn invitations
into the prestigious field.