DP World Tour : ISPS Handa Australian Open Leaderboard
Min Woo Lee and Rikuya Hoshino are tied at the top of the leaderboard ahead of the final round of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open in Sydney.
Lee, who held a three-shot lead at the halfway stage, made a birdie putt in front of a packed gallery around the 18th green at The Australian Golf Club to card a one-under-par 70 to head into the final day at -13
Hoshino earlier set the clubhouse target on Saturday with a flawless 65 and is in the final group alongside Lee for the second week running after finishing runner-up to the home favourite at last week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.
Alex Fitzpatrick is a shot adrift in his bid to win for the first time on the DP World Tour after he covered the back nine in just 30 shots to card a superb 66 -12 and sit alongside American Patrick Rodgers 68 -12, while Australian Lucas Herbert 66 -11 is two back in fifth.
Lee is aiming to become just the seventh Australian to win both the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open in the same year and he was pleased to keep himself well placed to cap his year off in style.
“If I win, I win and last week was last week,” said Lee. “I played great then, so hopefully I can finish it off tomorrow.
“I know there’s a lot of history to it, but it’s just another tournament. If it goes well, it goes well.
“Obviously it is towards the end of the year and [my] 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, hopefully tomorrow’s good.”
Hoshino is enjoying an impressive first visit to Australia and mixed an eagle with four birdies to match the low round of the day.
The Japanese will now aim to fulfil his ambition of winning on the DP World Tour and land a first title outside of his home country.
“I’m going to use my experience of winning many tournaments in Japan and also my goal is winning on the DP World Tour this year, so I’m going to try to do my best," he said.
Fitzpatrick (younger brother of Matt) who claimed his first professional title on the European Challenge Tour earlier this year, recovered from a bogey at the eighth to vault himself into contention on Saturday with a stunning back nine charge.
“Overall, I’m extremely happy with the day and I guess that’s why they call it moving day, hopefully you can drop a low one and get yourself in contention going on Sunday,” he reflected.
“Proud of myself for hanging in there and just sticking with my game and trusting myself.”
PGA Tour member Rodgers carded a 68 that featured six birdies and three bogeys to give himself hope of victory Down Under.
The American will be joined by three-time DP World Tour winner Lucas Herbert in the penultimate group after a 66 that featured six birdies and just one blemish on his card.
edit <<<<< Women
Defending champion from South Africa Ashleigh Buhai has opened a 3 shot lead heading into Sunday's final round 68 7 67 -12.
She will head the final pairing with Korean Jiyai Shin 68 68 72 -9 and home favourite Minjee Lee 70 75 67 -5
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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