Dramatic final day awaits at Australian Open
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 2nd to get back within three.
At the par 4 3rd, however, Lee would find the water with his 2nd, 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 15th and Lee bogeyed the 10th 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
