Robards fired four birdies on the way to a three-under 69 on Monday morning to lead by a stroke.

He added two birdies to get it to five under midway through the second round on Monday afternoon, but crashed on the way home with two double-bogeys and two bogeys.

The 16-year-old eventually signed off on a three-over 75 to be even par and tied for second, two strokes behind leader Jack Holland.

The Kotara High School student is a member of the NSW Junior team and is fresh from a successful 2018.

** Harry Atkinson carded a three-over 75 at Twin Creeks on Monday to lead the 13-years division of the Sydney Week of Golf by four shots. The five-day, five-course event moves to Castle Hill on Tuesday.

** Newcastle will hold its junior classic on Sunday.

** Aaron Townsend is in the 40-player field for the Blitz Pro Series event at Hope Island on Saturday. Touted as the Twenty20 of golf, the field is split in two groups. The top 12 from each group after nine holes progress. They play six holes with the top six from each group moving on. The survivors play three holes from which two in each group progress to a final hole shoot-out.

** Justin Thomas won a tournament he thought he threw away with a superb wedge to three feet for birdie on the third playoff hole at Kapalua to beat Patrick Reed and win the Tournament of Champions for the second time.

Thomas made the playoff necessary by losing a two-shot lead with three holes to play. Then, he was fortunate to even be in a playoff when defending champion Xander Schauffele three-putted from 35 feet for a par that brought Reed into the playoff.

It was the first three-man playoff since this event moved to Kapalua in 1999.

Reed twice had putts to win on the 18th in extra holes, missing from 30 feet and 12 feet.

Thomas hit a high wedge that landed perfectly with enough spin and rolled out to three feet.

READ MORE: LAMB EYES MOVE UP WORLD RANKINGS