Justin Thomas  – he and Danny Lee share the lead

New Zealander Danny Lee entered calculations for a potential Presidents Cup berth by taking a share of the third round lead at the C.J. Cup Nine Bridges in Korea today, and, although entering the week perhaps far from the mind of International Captain, Ernie Els, a win tomorrow would surely have him under consideration.

Lee overcame a double bogey at the 10^th hole today with a 60-foot putt for eagle at the last to join Justin Thomas the lead in the US9.5 million event.

Given that the time gap between the automatic qualifiers and the captain’s picks for December’s Presidents Cup was designed to have the most in form players in the final line-up then if Lee was to go on with it tomorrow then his case for inclusion can’t be dismissed.

Thomas appeared to be edging well clear of the field until Lee’s late heroics and a bogey by the American at the final hole saw a three shots swing between the pair setting up a fascinating final day tomorrow for the former US Amateur Champion, Lee.

Lee has appeared in one Presidents Cup, that coming in Korea in 2015 so the prospect of playing the event is not as preposterous as it might have seemed at the start of the week.

Lee and Thomas have opened up a three-shot lead over Australia’s Cameron Smith with another shot back to Americans Jordan Spieth and Wyndham Clark.

Jason Day is the next best of the Australians in 22^nd place after his round of 1 under par 71.

For Lee it was a particularly exciting day and finish especially given his Korean heritage

“As for that putt, frankly I wasn’t aiming for the hole,” said Lee referring to the unlikely eagle. “I was just trying to get the ball to roll down the slope as slowly as possible but it kept going. I would say it was about 19 steps (yards) from the hole.

“I’ve never played exceptionally well in Korea, so I also felt I could play better in front of my Korean fans. On top of that my parents and my wife are Korean and my granddad lives here so that would be great. I am glad I had a strong showing this week and hopefully I can say the same tomorrow.”

Smith continued his good record in the event having finished inside the top ten in both visits to Jeju Island. A double bogey late in his opening nine might well have proven disastrous but he regathered with a birdie at the 11^th and a lengthy eagle putt of his own at the 12^th.

 

 

 

Su Oh – improved showing thus far

Victorian golfer, Su Oh, leads the Australians at the halfway stage of the Buick LPGA Shanghai event in China, rounds of 71 and 70 having her in a share of 15th place at 3 under and eight shots from the lead of Canadian Brooke Henderson.

Minjee Lee is two shots further back in a share of 24^th place a position also shared by New Zealander Lydia Ko, while Katherine Kirk is 35^th at 1 over and a massive 12 shots from the lead.

Lee was building towards a good second round score before three dropped shots in two holes in her closing nine saw her slip back.

Oh has shown some good form in recent weeks despite a missed cut in Texas two weeks ago and although she bogeyed her final hole today she is well enough placed for a strong weekend.

Henderson leads by two over Jessica Korda with defending champion Danielle Kang another shot back.

Henderson’s brilliant round of 64 included a hole in one at her second hole today, providing the catalyst for her impressive run to the top of the leaderboard.

“I got a lot of breaks out there today,” including the hole-in-one,” said the Canadian. “It was a 9-iron for me. I didn’t see it at all, and then Olly, one of the caddies in our group, turned and said, “That went in.

“We were like “What, really!” That was pretty cool. It definitely got my day started in the right direction. I got a lot of breaks and was able to make some putts. Eight under, I’m really happy with that, especially with how windy it was today.”

 

photo Golf Australia

17-year old Gold Coast golfer, Elvis Smylie, continued his rapid rise in Australian amateur golf this season with victory in one of the more significant events on the Australian men’s amateur schedule, the Keperra Bowl.

Smylie won the Australian Junior Championship on the Gold Coast earlier this year before making the match play stage of the US Junior Championship in Ohio and today took out the event at the Keperra Country Golf Club in Brisbane’s northern suburbs by two shots over his fellow Queenslander, Dylan Gardner.

NSW golfers, Nathan Barbieri and Josh Armstrong, tied for 3^rd another shot behind Armstrong.

Smylie had to work hard for the victory as Gardner closed fast with rounds of 67 and 65 to finish off the 72 hole event and, with an opening nine of 31 today, the margin was just one but Smylie was up to the task with a final nine of 33 of his own to hold on.

Smylie’s earlier win in the Australian Boy’s Championship earned him a start at the Australian Open so it has been a meteoric rise for the Southport and Nudgee Golf Club member.

 

File Photo: Ryan Fox – Henry Peters

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox continued his climb from a mid-season slump by taking a share of the lead at the Amundi Open de France at Le Golf National in Paris.

Fox’s opening round of 65 has him tied with South African George Coetzee on a golf course where he has performed well previously. In 2017 Fox finished 6^th at this same event and venue against a stronger field than the one he faces this week.

After his breakthrough European Tour win in Perth earlier this year, Fox missed seven consecutive cuts before a solid week at the Open Championship began to turn things around and a top twenty finish in Italy last week was further proof that his game was getting back to the high level he produced in patches in 2017 and 2018.

“I’m pretty happy,” said Fox. “This is a golf course that can kick you pretty quickly. I played really solid today. Holed some putts. Played those tough holes, that closing stretch, really well. I could have potentially grabbed a couple more on those last four, which is always a bonus, but very happy to walk away with a 65 around here.

“You’ve got to drive it really well. For the most part I did a really good job of keeping it in play. A couple holes I hit poor tee shots and I managed to scramble and make pars from there, which is nice. But yeah, you just keep yourself out of trouble.”

Although the prizemoney this week is significantly less than that of previous years at the French Open, it is nonetheless and important week for Fox as he looks to force his way into the top 50 in the Race to Dubai rankings (he is currently 55th) and earn a start at the season ending DP World Tour Championship Dubai in late November.

There are still several events in which he can do so but if he can take advantage of this good start then things become easier for the 32-year old from Auckland.

Fox and Coetzee lead by one over American, Kurt Kitayama, Frenchman, Benjamin Herbert, and Scot, Richie Ramsay.

Victorian, Deyen Lawson, struggling for survival on the European Tour, is the next best of the Australasians after his opening round of 68 left him in a share of 13^th place, Jason Scrivener is 25^th, Lucas Herbert 50th, Nick Cullen 65^th with Jake McLeod and Sam Brazel further back.

#OpenDeFrance after 18 holes 📊

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 17, 2019

Byeong Hun An – file photo

If Ernie Els needed any guidance in finalising his International Presidents Cup side, then he could have done worse than witnessing the opening round of the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup Nine Bridges event on Jeju Island in Korea today.

Byeong Hun An, Joaquin Niemann, Jason Day, Sungjae Im, Emiliano Grillo and Dylan Frittelli have all made good starts to the US$9.75 million event, all five surely amongst considerations, at least, for one of Els’ captain’s picks on Monday November 4^th.

Jason Day and Joaquin Niemann are likely already a lock for a place although they probably needed to at least play well in these next two weeks but An and Im are very much in the group just a level below as perhaps are Grillo and Frittelli so their performances this week and in Japan next week are crucial.

28 year old An leads the event at the completion of the opening round by one shot over Niemann with Day another shot back and alone in 3^rd place after his round of 66.

Im is tied for 9^th one behind Day while Grillo is another shot back.

Others to start the event well and who might yet be considerations are Dylan Frittelli who is six shots from the lead.

Niemann, perhaps, secured his place with his recent win on the PGA Tour but he needed to keep playing well and this is likely enough to solidify his ticket to Royal Melbourne.

Jason Day was probably always going to get one of the picks but he needed to play well after his recent lengthy break from tournament golf and today was the perfect way to display his readiness.

I’m pleased, but I’m a little bit disappointed about 18 because I hit a nice drive down there, had 8 iron in my hand and short sided myself,” said Day

“But I think overall it’s a great start and I think to be able to capitalize on a day like we had today because we’re not used to the wind being down like it was.

“I’m excited to see how the rest of the week goes. Last week, I spent a lot of time with Col (Colin Swatton, his coach).  He came and he was in for the week.  I was actually working with him that week and things are looking good. I feel good about the game, so hopefully things keep going the way they did today.”

Im was Rookie of the Year on the PGA Tour and having won a Korean Tour event last week he has again started well with a round of 68 to be knocking on the door once again.

Grillo recovered from a slow start with a closing nine of 32 to be close enough if good enough over the final 54 holes. He, too, will need something special over the next two weeks, having missed his last two cuts and is perhaps on the outside looking in but something special this week or next and you never know.

Frittelli has been playing well in the new season and did win on the PGA Tour in July so a good finish here or in Japan might be good enough.

The final decisions will of course be made by Ernie Els but he must be delighted that those in the mix are showing the appropriate form at just the right time.

Day heads the Australians at 6 under with Cameron Smith just one behind after his round of 67, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones 72 and Won Joon Lee 74.

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