Min Woo Lee’s spectacular finish sets up three shot lead at Aus Open
Min Woo Lee after holing a bunker shot during today’s second round – image Australian Golf Media
It took until late in the day in round two of the Australian Open to determine who might lead Australia’s national open into the weekend at the Australian Golf Club but the rising star of the game in this country, Min Woo Lee, made a huge statement with a beautifully drawn 9 iron from the pine needles at the par 5 last to set up a two-foot eagle putt which he duly converted.
As he walked to the scorer’s hut to sign for his round of 64, Lee led by three over Scotland’s Connor Syme who for much of the day appeared as if he would be the one to lead the event into the weekend and American Patrick Rodgers.
After his round, Lee enthused about the manner he played the last, his approach to the par 5 setting up the three-shot lead.
“I got a bit lucky off the tee shot, I pulled it, but I smoked it, so I knew I had a chance of carrying that bunker. Ended up in the nice pine straw out there and had a really good number for a 9-iron, like really big 9-iron and I’ve been hitting draws all week and it kind of sat up really nicely.
“I saw the coverage and it spun left towards the hole and nearly actually went in, so really happy with that finish. It’s always nice to make an eagle whenever, but on the last hole, it’s even nicer.
Lee also made special mention of the atmosphere that prevailed through his final nine holes and the crowd support he was receiving.
“It was unreal. As I said just before, I didn’t think that we could beat last week’s crowds, but we’ve very nearly done it before the weekend, so it’s unreal. Yeah, it’s really fun. Most of my golf has been really good because of the crowd and the support, and I’m really happy for that.
When asked what approach he might take given the lead he now has Lee was quick to respond.
“I’m pretty true to myself. I don’t back down from anything and I’m an aggressive player and I’ve always been that way so unless I have a massive lead, I mean I probably wouldn’t, but if I do have somewhat of a lead I would still be aggressive as much as I can. Yeah, go out there and do the same thing.”
Lee began his round with a bogey but from that point on he appeared hellbent on working his way into contention and, potentially, the lead.
He recovered to make the turn in 34 but a homeward nine of 30 including the stunning eagle at the last has him in control of the tournament and given the momentum he is carrying from his Australian PGA Championship last week there would be few prepared to bet against him going back to back.
Syme has yet to win an event on the DP World Tour but after a good week at last week’s Australian PGA Championship and several near misses in Europe, the 28-year-old former Australian Amateur Champion served notice today that the much-awaited first victory could potentially happen over the weekend but it would be a brave person to bet against the rampant Lee whose momentum will carry him a long way towards a second consecutive victory.
Syme was out early amongst the morning field at the Lakes Golf Club on day two and completed his round in near-perfect, benign conditions, adding a round of 70 to his opening 64 and when he had finished he had joined overnight leader, Cam Davis in the lead.
Davis was only just into his second round at the nearby Australian Golf Club when Syme finished, the pair tied at 9 under at that point and one clear of Joaquin Niemann who had finished twenty minutes earlier than Syme after a round of 69 at the Lakes Golf Club.
Davis would however drop away with a round of 74 to be now six shots from the lead.
Syme was delighted with his play over the opening 36 holes but knows there is a long way still to go and said so after his round.
“Yeah, there’s a long way to go, 36 holes and I’m not totally sure if (his lead) will stack up over the rest of the play today day, but yeah, it’s just a great opportunity and last event of the year, hopefully, we’ll go out on a high.
“Yesterday was awesome and I had good vibes from yesterday. I think the key is to try and rest up this afternoon and stay as fresh as possible. In a way, I don’t know how the guys will get on this afternoon, but yeah, pretty pleased with myself and looking forward to doing it again.”
As the afternoon wore on the almost nonexistent breeze for the morning field strengthened but it was hardly a concern and it actually cooled an otherwise humid day around 2.00pm making playing conditions very pleasant.
Davis, though, stumbled at the 7th where he took double bogey and Syme was alone atop the leaderboard by one over Niemann and Jhonattan Vegas who finished soon after Syme at the Lakes Golf Club and joined Niemann at 8 under and one behind the lead.
Rodgers finished his round late in the day and joined Syme in a share of second place and three from the lead.
Another to finish later in the day was Lismore golfer, Sam Brazel, who snuck into a share of 4th place and four from the lead following his superb second round of 65. The former Hong Kong Open winner is undergoing a resurgence in his career and played well at various stages of last week’s Australian PGA Championship.
A PGA Tour player who has yet to win at that level, Rodgers does, however, own several runner-up finishes in the US and might well figure prominently over the weekend.
Vegas is a player good enough to have won three events on the PGA Tour including twice the Canadian Open although he is returning to golf after injury and is working on keeping patient as his game shows signs of returning.
“A positive for me, coming off an injury,” said Vegas. “So, it was good to kind of start putting a round together and doing stuff like that. It’s hard to be, to not be patient. Like I said, that’s the goal going forward.”
Vegas is enjoying the feel of his game coming back after so long out as a result of injury, but he is also loving being in Australia again.
“Well, the experience has been amazing, man. Like I’ve said from the beginning, I love it here. I enjoy it here. Even though it’s a long way away, I enjoy coming here and I have lots of friends. Lots of Australian guys I play on the PGA Tour are here. I feel like I have a great relationship with them.”
Cam Smith improved on his last week’s showing with a round of 68 to be eight shots from the lead but safely in the field for the weekend.
Ji Yai Shin leads the women’s field – image Australian Golf Media.
The women’s field is led by one of the game’s most prolific ever winners, Jiyai Shin, a former champion of this event who added a second round of 69 to lead by two over the defending champion Ashleigh Buhai with Korean Jenny Shin alone in third place another shot back.
Of particular note in the women’s field has been the performance of several of Australia’s leading amateurs with Rachel Lee (4th), Justice Bosio (5th), and Sarah Hammet and Caitlin Peirce (6th) all comfortably inside the top ten.
While Min Woo Lee thrilled the crowds with his amazing effort today, his sister Minjee was less so. Her round of 75 has her in 13th place and nine shots from Shin’s lead.
The All Abilities field is led by Australians Cameron Pollard and Lachlan Wood and Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor.
