Golf: Solid start by Kiwis amateurs in Melbourne

Wellington's Ben Campbell. Photo / Getty Images

Ben Campbell and Vaughan McCall have made a solid start to the Australian Master of the Amateurs at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

The Kiwi pair are in a share of 13th place after carding a one-over-par 73 in round one and will head into today's second round seven shots back from the leader DJ Loypur of Victoria.

Campbell, who has been based in Melbourne for the past two years, is now New Zealand's number one amateur and is looking for a good build-up to the Australian Amateur where he has finished runner up twice.

McCall is building on his international experience from 2011 where he impressed at the Asian Amateur Championship in Singapore, sharing 9th place, and a good showing in the Nomura Cup.

New Zealand Amateur Champion Mathew Perry is the next best of the Kiwis in a share of 29th place after a three-over-par 75.

The final Kiwi in the mix is Titirangi golfer Sam An who is off the pace in a share of 39th after a five over par 77.

Bradley fires in Lake Macquarie

Waikato golfer Sarah Bradley is in a share of third place at the Lake Macquarie Women's Amateur Championship after carding an even par 73 at the Belmont Golf Club.

The 24-year-old is four shots back from Australian Breanna Elliott who shot an four under 69 to lead by three shots from compatriot Emma Ash.

It is a good comeback for Bradley who suffered amnesia when she was badly injured in a car crash four years ago.

She suffered traumatic brain injuries in the crash in January 2008 when she was returning to her home in Cambridge from the United States to visit her parents for Christmas.

Bradley lost her memory for five months after the accident and was unable to play golf again for 18 months.

She returned to the Oklahoma State University where she was studying under a golf scholarship but found she was not well enough to continue her Communications Course.

She now plays off a plus two handicap and is a good chance in the Lake Macquarie event.