Kyabram's Cooper Gentle and Shepparton's Bailey Goodall are tied for fourth heading into today's second round after strong displays during Monday's first 18 holes.
The Cranbourne Golf Club-hosted tournament was scheduled as a four-round event, but smoke haze throughout the course yesterday caused play to be abandoned and has now turned it into a 54-hole competition.
Goodall started Monday in remarkable fashion, one of five players in the 88-player tournament to eagle the par-five first, and he knuckled down to continue with consistent golf throughout the day.
He continued on to make par on the next 11 holes, before he dropped two shots in the last six to return to the clubhouse with a par score of 72.
Gentle — who represents Moama's Rich River Golf Club — had a somewhat more volatile round, with six birdies, pars and bogeys in his 18.
Gentle was two-under through 14, but dropped two shots in the last four to also finish at 72.
Yarrawonga's Baxter Droop, who plays football for Picola District Football League side Rennie, is also right in the hunt after a one-over 73 on Monday.
It has already been a productive year for Goodall, who last week took out the Southern Junior Classic at the Southern Golf Club.
Goodall shot 76 on both days to win the under-16 title by two strokes.
Play continues at Cranbourne today pending the smoke clearing, before it wraps up tomorrow.
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