Aussies patient ready for putts to drop

Jack Thompson sets a putt to 14 on Friday at the AAC 2019. (Photo: Golf Australia / Justin Falconer)

Live scores, tee times and more for the AAC 2019

None of the Australian quartet chasing fellow countryman Blake Windred has reached the highest gear in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship 2019 …

New South Welshman Windred sleeps a one-shot halfway ahead of 10-under, but Jack Thompson, Nathan Barbieri and Karl Vilips are in the red figures for two days and are ready to make a move at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Dave Micheluzzi stopped on Friday in sudden impulses in what could be his last start as an amateur.

Thompson is the best placed of the chase package, currently 3-under for the tournament after a disastrous start on Thursday.

After three bogeys in his opening of five holes, the 21-year-old South Australian has played the next 31 holes in 6-under to be seven back from the outright leader.

"Everything has just been a bit good, but not great," said the member of Grange.

"I just don't hit it close enough, I hit it to 20 feet and you're happy if you're two-putt, but at the same time it's a little disappointing."

World No.45 Vilips has also made an effort to play his powerful game together, the Western Australian signed for a 2-in-70 on Friday that left him less than satisfied.

The 18-year-old is 1-for the week, but a frustrating Friday back nine kept the rising star back.

"The whole nine back I had trouble seeing a putt enter," said Vilips.

"Everything burned the edge or lipping and it was really frustrating.

"If the putts fall one day, I have the feeling that I am very low."

What they said … Thompson, Barbieri, Micheluzzi & Vilips after round two

Also at 1-bottom through 36 holes is Barbieri of Monash CC, the 22-year-old who loses control in the middle of his second round who has undone much of Thursday's good work.

After a birdie on the brutal par-5 8, Barbieri was 4-under for the week and ready to make his way to the first page of the rankings.

But four bogeys in the next seven holes pulled him back to the field, Barbieri joined Vilips in a share of the 18th halfway.

"I didn't really hit many fairways, so you can't score here, it's pretty brutal," Barbieri said.

"The momentum putts didn't really fall for me.

"I think the wind swirls much more [in the afternoon] it felt almost like most holes were in the wind."

Just as a triple boarder derailed him on his way to a 72 on Thursday, two shots in penalties on 17 and 18 late on Friday afternoon paralyzed World No. 4 Micheluzzi.

After he was drilled out of the green under par-3 12, the Victoriaan scored his fifth bird of the day on the 16th who had him back on even-par for the tournament through 34 holes.

But a loose swing drifted straight off the par-3 17th tee, just like his approach in the water-guarded 18th green.

Micheluzzi finished bogey, double bogey to be back at 3-over for the week and stared at the start of his professional career.

"I played very well for the first 16 holes and then the last two holes that I was in danger twice and just ruined the score a little," Micheluzzi said.

"Yesterday was just one bad hole and today was one bad hole, so those are five shots that could easily have been removed."

"There is really nothing to lose, because if I don't win, I will become a pro, so I give it all."

Meanwhile, Kyle Michel of Shepparton had a horror finish on Friday morning and played his second nine (the first of Sheshan) in 43 and without recording a par

Also on the point of becoming professional in time for the second stage of the European Tour Q-School, Michel signed for a 78 that led to a nervous afternoon, with the Victorian eventually reducing the number to +9.