Ben Campbell in, Aussies out at St Andrews 

(story and photo courtesy Anthony Powter)

Masterton's Ben Campbell

New Zealand's leading amateur Ben Campbell is within two strokes of the leaders moving into the final rounds at the St Andrews Links Trophy in Scotland.

Campbell, runner-up in the 2010 Australian Amateur, fired equal rounds of 70, to be at 4-under-par and in 5th position, two strokes behind Ben Westgate, Matthew Southgate and Daniel Lokke.

The cut of 40 lowest scores over 36 holes came in at even-par with Aussies Matt Jager, Kieran Pratt and Jin Jeong all missing the final 36 holes that are to be played over the Old Course tomorrow.

Last week Campbell recorded a top-10 finish at the Scottish Open Amateur at Glasgow Gailes Links and has headed to Europe with a string of impressive finishes domestically back in Australasia this season.

In May, Campbell 18, held off the challenges from more experienced professionals to win the Carrus Tauranga Open and in the process become the first amateur in more than two years to win a New Zealand Charles Tour event.

The win was on the back of some stellar results in Australia where the world number 82 secured two top-10 finishes at the Lake Macquarie Amateur and Master of the Amateurs. Campbell then went onto make the final of the Australian Amateur Championships against eventual winner, Matt Jager, and accounted along the way the scalps of Bryden Macpherson and Kieran Pratt.

With the final 36-holes being contested at St Andrews tomorrow, the two stroke deficit can be easily eroded by Campbell as he goes in search of a major European amateur title and the New Zealander is optimistic with his chances.

"I love this place [St Andrews]," says Campbell.

"A lot can depend on the conditions, yet I feel ready to contest this event and will be giving it the best that I can out there."