After an excellent 3-under 68 in cool and windy conditions on Thursday, Dowling was away early in round two and with greens firming in Spring sunshine signed off for 2-over 73, just two behind co-leaders Chuan-Tai Lin of Chinese Taipei and China's Wenyi Ding.

The 18-year-old Dowling's day began with back-to-back birdies on 9 and 10 which took him briefly into the equal lead with Kiwi Kazuma Kobori.

However a double on 11 following a horse-shoe lip-out were followed by three bogies and a birdie for the Surfers Paradise GC member who described his round as "a bit of fun".

"Had an interesting lip-out for bogey and made double but bounced back pretty well, and made a birdie on 13 ... so it didn't affect me too much which was good," Dowling said.

Dowling had never played on the Melbourne Sandbelt prior to teeing it up at Royal Melbourne this week and said "it's a really cool course".

"The style of play is a lot different, and I think even though I have not had a lot of time to prepare, I think I've done pretty well and I'm quite happy with the way I played," Dowling said.

Billy Dowling said he's trying not to think of winning the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur but admitted "it would be very cool". PHOTO: AAC.

With the sun out all day and the wind picking up, 21-year-old Stubbs was disappointed with his 3-over 74 but sits just three shots behind the leading duo.

Stubbs said conditions were “pretty tough."

"The greens were a bit firmer today. And the wind got up a bit, plus it was switching around so that made it tricky.

“I’m a little disappointed with the three bogies to finish but there’s two days to go and everyone seems to be going backwards. I’m not too worried. I’ll try to replicate my first round [68] a couple more times over the weekend," Stubbs said.

Jasper Stubbs' round of 74 leaves him at even par, just three off the lead heading into the weekend. PHOTO: AAC.

Stubbs told Golf Australia magazine he planned to forgive himself errors on the weekend.

“You’ve got be really kind to yourself out here because you don’t have to do too much wrong to make a big number.

“You’ve got to be okay with making some mistakes – nobody’s going to go bogey-free on the weekend around here," Stubbs said. 

Leading Australian hope Jeff Guan had an even par round of 71 and is 2-over for the tournament, with Victorian Max Charles and Queenslander Harry Takis both a further shot back.

Thirteen Australians teed it up on Thursday and 12 will play on the weekend after finishing on or under the cut line of +12.

Only Canberra's Harry Bolton is off to lick his wounds after finishing with 19-over (80-81).

Queenslander Harry Takis is another who remains in the hunt for the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. PHOTO: AAC.

Following his stellar 5-under 66 on Thursday, the wheels nearly fell off for first round leader Kobori of Christchurch who had six bogies in his 4-over 75.

The 22-year-old remains well-placed, however, two shots behind the leaders.

Kobori's group, which included Bo Jin (China) and Subash Tamang (Nepal), was also warned for slow play on the back nine.

"It definitely affected them," commentator Colt Knost told Golf Australia magazine. "They were warned on 11 and on the clock all the way home."

The tournament is organised by Augusta National and the R&A and awards the winner a start in the 2024 Masters and Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Follow the live leaderboard at the AAC Golf website.