Niemann – clearly happy with his week’s work – image Golf Australia

Whoever came up with the ridiculously overused and absurd golfing term ‘moving day’ to describe a third day of play in a golf tournament should have been at the Australian Golf Club for today’s final round as he or she might now have a rethink, given that every day in a golf tournament is a day where a potential winner can stake a claim or otherwise.

At the beginning of the day, eleven players were within four shots of the lead and as the day wore on as many as eight had moved themselves into a position where victory was not a remote prospect.

Eventually, it would be the 25-year-old Chilean golfer, Joaquin Niemann, who edged out Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino with a stunning eagle at the second extra hole of a playoff but not before five players either shared or held the lead outright through the final round and several others loomed as possible contenders.

It was a brilliant final day in front of some of the biggest crowds I have seen at an Australian Open for many years, perfect golfing conditions early in the day, giving way to the demands of an increasingly strong southerly wind which began to take its toll after is strengthened when the final group was playing the third hole

By the time the final group of Min Woo Lee, Riyuka Hoshino and Alex Fitzpatrick had reached the 5^th tee, Lee, Hoshino and Lucas Herbert were tied at the top at 12 under, but at 11 under were Fitzpatrick, Adam Scott and Ryo Hisatsune, and another shot back were Jason Scrivener, another Japanese star in Yuto Katsugawara, the eventual winner, Niemann and the faltering Patrick Rodgers.

One of the more bizarre stories would have been if Adam Scott had held on to a lead he created for himself when, after starting the day at 8 under par and in the first group out from the 10^th tee, he moved to 5 under for the day and into the outright lead when he birdied his 15^th hole (the 6^th).

Given Scott was to finish at the 9^th hole and more than an hour and a half ahead of those in the final group, his ongoing success might have proved embarrassing for tournament organisers.

But Scott would falter at the 7^th hole of the Australian layout and his 16^th overall when he found the trees and eventually took a triple bogey and while his chances were not over completely, two pars to finish saw him finish at 11 under and seemingly, despite the increasingly demanding conditions, a couple back of where he needed to be.

Niemann was on the correct side of the draw although more than 90 minutes ahead of the final group and he served notice of his intentions with an outward nine of 1 under and then scorching home in 32 for his round of 66 to lead before an agonising wait for the leading group to finish.

Niemann, a former Latin American Amateur Champion and a two-time winner on the PGA Tour before joining LiV Golf in 2022, spent the time exercising, hitting balls and anxiously watching the progress of those still in contention.

Until today’s victory Niemann’s playoff record in professional golf including Liv Golf was not good, having lost three until today but after he and Hoshino had both birdied the first extra hole, Niemann hit a superb second with a short iron to the par five the second time around and converted from 15 feet for eagle and the title of Australian Open Champion.

Hoshino had drawn level with a 35-foot birdie putt of his own at the 17^th but after a poor drive at the last in regulation he was unable to produce that one extra birdie to claim the title.

For Hoshino it was his second runner-up finish in succession having finished just behind Min Woo Lee in Brisbane last week.

Herbert’s climb to the top of the leaderboard came to a grinding halt when he triple-bogeyed the 9^th after missing the fairway then four putting. He would eventually finish 7^th.

Min Woo Lee recovered from an out-of-character slow start to the day and was still in with an opportunity playing the last before a poor drive cost him the chance of the eagle he needed to join the playoff and he finished alone in third place.

Niemann was understandably delighted with the decision he made to come to Australia and having the Australian Open title.

“It means a lot.  I wanted to win so bad for a long time.  The last one I have is in Riviera, and yeah, I mean this season wasn’t the best season that I play on LIV.  I haven’t had a great finish and after the season I kind of start working a lot harder with my coach and all my team and started seeing a bit of results.

“I mean, I wanted to play more golf because I felt like I was kind of like finding my game.  It was getting better.  I was hitting better, putting better and I was like ‘I want to go out and play and see if it’s true, you know?’

“Yeah, then I had these two weeks in Australia and actually was a really easy decision, I was in Chile, flight from Chile to Sydney which is really good and obviously there are world ranking points, which I think I need a few now and the open spots here this week, so he was you should come out here and play some golf and I was really happy to see some golf.

“Obviously it’s big.  I didn’t have a great season on LIV.  I found there’s too much going on and I wasn’t hitting it as good as I am right now, I’m used to it.  I was not putting as good.  I had a few changes on my team as well.  So, it was kind of like things were pretty new. I felt like we’re working harder too. I think that also brings some results and I am proud to see all the results coming up.

“So it’s nice to be here with the trophy and obviously I want to play well next season on LIV, I want to win tournaments and I think this is a good test to get ready for next season.”

Ashleigh Buhai – image Golf Australia

In the women’s Australian Open it would be defending champion Ashleigh Buhai who held off a determined final round charge by Minjee Lee whose final round of 69 was the only one under 70 on a very demanding and windy afternoon.

Beginning the final day three ahead of Jiyai Shin, Buhai a former childhood star in South Africa and now a two-time Australian Open Champion along with her AIG Womens’ Open title, played her way through to first twelve holes in even par but when she dropped shots at the 13^th, 14^th and 17^th, she had opened the door for Lee who will rue a costly double bogey at the 13^th.

Buhai would hold on but she was forced to make a four-foot out at the last to hold out Lee who was chasing her first Australian Open title.

Jenny Shin and Jiyai Shin tied for 3^rd but they were some five shots from Buhai and four from Lee.

“Yeah, I’m very proud to obviously come here and defend my title from last year,” said Buhai.  “I’ve never defended professional tournaments back to back although I have as an amateur, very proud.  Webbie sent me a message wishing me luck, which was really nice of her.

“Yeah, to do it on this golf course obviously Minjee made a run at me, to do it against her, she played fantastic today.  Obviously, I know that everybody was kind of cheering for her, but it was great, there were a lot of South Africans out there too that were supporting me.”

When asked about the crowds and the format of the two events together Buhai would add;

“I played last year and this year the crowds were unbelievable.  I think the format having the males and the-all abilities just brings it altogether.  They get to see the best of both as well.  I think the next best for me was the crowd-wise was the AIG Women’s Open, but walking down 18 yesterday and today, seeing that bank at the course was great.”

And so the second version of the multiple Australian Open being played at the same venue and in the same week is over.

There are still many detractors from the concept suggesting the respective Australian Opens should be stand alone events. Being a traditionalist this writer perhaps has similar views but the numbers at the Australian Golf Club this week don’t lie and the support of an event where Australian golf fans can witness their country’s best players of either gender at the one venue on the same week is, clearly, an attractive proposition.

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Min Woo Lee – the legend grows at the Australian Golf Club – image Golf Australia

Min Woo Lee and Ryuka Hoshino will continue their competitive rivalry when they take a share of the lead into the final round of the Australian Open at the Australian Golf Club tomorrow. That only tells a small part of what was a thrilling third day.

With calm, overcast conditions dominating much of the day at the during round three, it was clear an opportunity existed for anyone making the 2 under par cut to play their way into contention perhaps even before the leaders had hit off around 1.00pm.

That would prove to be very much the case with several very low rounds posted nearly two hours ahead of the final few groups even reaching the first tee.

Those rounds of 65 by American Sean Crocker and South Australian Adam Bland served notice of what was to come and that the remainder of the day could well witness some massive swings and roundabouts on the leaderboard and that even Min Woo Lee who had seemed almost impregnable at the top of the leaderboard was not safe from attack.

Lee would, though, hit a stunning shot to the first to extend his lead to four although his playing partner Connor Syme hit back immediately with a fine iron to the par three 2^nd to get back within three.

At the par 4 3rd, however, Lee would find the water with his 2^nd, took a double bogey and the gap was just one over Syme.

Others were joining the party however and as the day wore on first it was Lucas Herbert, then Lismore’s Sam Brazel and the man who challenged Lee before finishing second at last week’s PGA championship Rikuya Hoshino would emerge as genuine contenders for the title.

When Hoshino eagled the 15^th and Lee bogeyed the 10^th after chunking his third from behind the green, all of a sudden that four-shot early lead had disappeared and the pair was tied at 12 under and one ahead of Syme, who had taken full advantage of Lee’s mistake with a birdie of his own at the 10th, and Herbert, whose round of 66 moved him within one of the lead after starting the day six shots from Lee.

Herbert completed his round in 67 to be just one from the lead at that point.

Others were making their moves also with two-time winner of the event at the Australian Golf Club,  Matt Jones, moving to 9 under and within three of the lead when he finished his round.

American Patrick Rodgers struggled early in his round but after making the turn he added birdies at the 11th, 12th and 13th to join the lead along with Lee and Hoshino.

The younger brother of 2022 US Open Champion, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Alex was also moving in the right direction to be within just two of the lead late in his round so the final hour or so of play were to prove crucial in just who would claim ascendency heading into the final round tomorrow.

Fitzpatrick would close with a homeward nine of 30 to join those at 12 under one behind Hoshino who had made one last birdie at the last to take the lead ahead of Rodgers, Lee and soon after Fitzpatrick, but back on the course there was a lot yet to unfold before the 54-hole standings were finalised.

Rodgers joined Hoshino in the lead with a birdie at the 16th before a bogey at the 17th left him with a round of 68 and just one back of the lead held by Hoshino and Lee who saved his first birdie of the back nine to the last when he holed from 15 feet for birdie to move to 13 under and share the lead.

“Yeah, it was a bit of a grind,” said Lee.  “It wasn’t the easiest of rounds like the last five I’ve played.  But golf is golf.  I felt like I got a little unlucky with some lip-outs towards the end, but it is what it is.  Again, I hit some decent shots and hit some poor ones, but yeah, it was nice to make an up and down from a pretty average lie in that bunker.  Yeah, it was great to get the, I guess, momentum and hopefully I can bring it on to tomorrow.  But yeah, happy.

“Obviously, it is towards the end of the year and last round of the year is tomorrow, but it’s just another reason to give it my all before I take a break.  I’m pretty happy with the game and I feel fine.  So yeah, hopefully tomorrow’s good.”

Hoshino, backed up his fine runner-up finish last week in Queensland with yet another fine effort.

“This is the first time to come over here to Australia for me and I can enjoy this atmosphere and also this tournament,” said the Japanese star.  “So that’s why I think I’m playing well I guess.”

“Tomorrow I’m going to use many experiences of winning tournaments in Japan and also my goal is winning this DP World Tour this year, this past win, so I’m going to make it the winning and try to do my best.”

And so tomorrow 11 players begin the final round within four shots of the lead and, if today is anything to go by, then each, and every one, will likely feel they have a realistic chance of taking the Stonehaven Cup, perhaps even along with a few more.

Ashleigh Buhai holds a commanding lead over Jiya Shin heading into final round – photo Golf Australia

In the Women’s Australian Open, the defending champion Ashleigh Buhai was impressive as she overtook the overnight leader, Jiya Shin with a third round of 65 to lead by three over Shin with Australia’s Minjee Lee improving sharply with a round of 67 to be alone in 3rd place at 5 under and seven from the lead.

Shin had begun with a two-shot lead but with four consecutive birdies to start by Buhai, the 2022 Women’s AIG Open Champion, she had taken the lead and never let up, eventually leading by three into tomorrow’s final round shootout.

The All Abilities Championship was won by Lachlan Wood from Hervey Bay in Queensland where is is the Associate Professional at Hervey Bay Golf Club.

“So 12 months ago I was no one, I had no world ranking, I had no position in all abilities,” said Wood. “I’d only just heard about how to get into the system.  I’d known about it and watched it for years, but I never knew how to actually get into the system. This 12 months I’ve gone from no one to probably six, seven, eight victories and then today.”

“I started golf when I was really young.  One of my mates who’s playing in the main field today got me into it when we were at school.  Then yeah, got down, nearly got as good as him and had a car accident and then yeah, our lives went separate ways for about 10 years and then we’re back here together at the same event.”

“I feel great, yeah.  It’s a good event.  I’m happy to be here. First time playing the course, first time playing the event.  It’s such a well-run event.  Golf Australia do an amazing job. They’ve looked after us really well this week and yeah, treated us special.”

The All Abilities Champion Lachlan Wood – image Golf Australia

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