Adam Scott snatches late lead at Australian Open
Adam Scott – photo Australian Golf Media
The very early starters in excellent scoring conditions on day three of the Australian Open at the Victorian Golf Club certainly had their chances to challenge those well ahead on the leaderboard and while one or two put together solid rounds to improve their standing in the event, the predicted strong warm winds did not eventuate and those out later in the day were able to consolidate and improve their positions.
Adam Scott and David Micheluzzi began the day tied in the lead and three ahead of the field but runs would come from Adrian Meronk, Min Woo Lee and Josh Geary and while the overnight leaders weren’t exactly backing off, the ultimate winner of the event tomorrow afternoon became less and less clear.
Although a stiff breeze was in play all afternoon, the carnage that a strong northerly can bring did not occur. That may happen tomorrow and if that does then there is a lot of excitement in store for the large crowds sure to attend to witness what promises to be an exciting final day.
As it stands at the completion of the third round, Adam Scott produced yet another dramatic finish when he eagled the final hole for the second day in a row and leads the event at 11 under and one ahead of Adrian Meronk.
Scott appeared to be just treading water after reaching the turn in 1 over but a birdie at the 12th, where he hit the most magnificent launched iron from an adjacent fairway to less than a foot, got the momentum heading in the right direction. He would then birdie the driveable par 4 15th, then saved pars at the 16th and 17th before holing from 14 feet at the last to snatch the lead away from Meronk.
“Well, I believe I’m going to do it but without using cliches, there’s no point thinking about my winner’s speech right now,” he said. “I’ve got a long way to navigate my round, get around the course tomorrow, but I absolutely believe I’m going to do it.
“If you don’t believe in it, then you won’t do it. So, I’ve got to go out tomorrow and do much of the same stuff I did today and if I get a couple of good numbers and the putts drop, I know when to challenge and when to hold back a little.”
Meronk is a player good enough to have won the Irish Open in 2022 and in doing so became the first ever Polish player to win on the DP World Tour. The win along with several top tens saw the 29 year-old finish 8th in the DP World Tour rankings this year and cement himself as one of the stars of European golf.
Meronk said last week at the PGA Championship that he had played in Australia previously and although he had options in South Africa he stated when asked that he was keen to return to this country. Chances are he is very happy with that decision.
“I felt like my game was pretty good last week, so I just wanted to keep going to start the new season well, to put some points on the board,” said the tall Polish golfer. “So that was the main reason, plus, I like Australia. I really enjoy my time here.”
He is no doubt liking it even more now and just maybe a whole lot more tomorrow evening.
“Yeah, I love it,” said Meronk today referring to his position. You want to be in this position going especially into Sunday. I feel really good about my game. I got familiar with the course so I’m going to enjoy tomorrow.
Meronk is staying with his Polish cousins who live in Melbourne and only a few minutes from the course making an enjoyable time here even more so.
“We’ve had Polish food for dinner every night. We went to the city yesterday, walked around. Yeah, I’m really enjoying the time in Australia, especially in Melbourne.”
Min Woo Lee finished his day with a round of 65 just before Meronk finished his and at 7 under par he is just four from the lead. His sister Minjee might now be a forlorn hope of winning her first Australian Women’s Open but her brother could still fly the flag for the family.
“It’s a good position,” said Lee. “Obviously you would like to be in the lead, but I’m playing good golf and who knows what’s going to happen tomorrow. I would like to be in the lead, but I didn’t really play as good the first couple of days. But I’m happy to be in the position I am now and hopefully I can put on another show tomorrow.”
Lee shares third place with his fellow West Australian Haydn Barron who represented Australia before turning professional less a year ago. For one so inexperienced he is holding up well under such great scrutiny.
The women’s field is led by Jiyai Shin who bounced back with a birdie at the 17th after an agonising double bogey at the 16th. She leads by one over South African Ashleigh Buhai who was round in 66 today and by three over yet another West Australian in Hannah Green.
“Always I love the playing here,” said Shin. “So it feel like a good play and then I have a lot of friends out here, so they make it so confident to playing and how I’m really lucky to play how cool this is. I’m in that element.”
