[PHOTO: LIV Golf]
It was a mixed bag for Ripper GC’s four Australian stars as the LIV Golf season nears a close, with Marc Leishman the top Australian at LIV Golf Chicago in a share of 13th.
The Warrnambool product carded rounds of even-par, two-under and one-under to finish at three-under for the week. While never truly in contention for the title at the Chicago area’s Bolingbrook Golf Club, the 41-year-old’s steady play was a bright spot for the all-Australian Ripper GC team.
South Africa’s Dean Burmester won the title with a birdie in extra holes after he, Jon Rahm and Rahm’s fellow Spaniard Josele Ballester entered a playoff at nine-under.
Cameron Smith, Ripper GC’s captain and 2022 Open champion, finished in a tie for 29th at even-par. After opening with an even-par first round, Smith’s second-round of two-over left him battling to climb the leaderboard. A closing two-under 69 salvaged some momentum, but it was not enough for a top-10.
Victorian Lucas Herbert was tied for 25th at one-under. The Bendigo big-hitter opened with a solid two-under but slipped with an even-par second round and a one-over closing round.
Matt Jones, the veteran of Ripper GC, endured the toughest week of the four, finishing tied for 49th at five-over. A battling four-over opening round left him on the back foot. Although Jones responded with a two-under 69 on Friday, a three-over final round sent him tumbling down the leaderboard.
In the team standings, Ripper GC’s combined efforts were not enough to challenge for a podium finish.
