[PHOTO: LIV Golf]
Australia’s Ripper GC has kept itself within striking distance of a team podium heading into the final round of LIV Golf UK, although team members Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith, Matt Jones and Lucas Herbert likely left themselves too far back of runaway leader Joaquin Niemann at JCB Golf and Country Club in England.
RELATED: LIV Golf resubmits application for Official World Golf Ranking points
The day belonged to Chilean Niemann.
The Torque GC captain put on a masterclass, carding an eight-under-par 63 to soar to 14-under through two rounds and take a six-shot lead into Sunday’s final round. Niemann’s score included a front-nine 30. It was the lowest round of the day, and it has Niemann on track for his fifth LIV victory this season and seventh overall.
For the Australian contingent, Leishman once again led the charge for Ripper GC. The 41-year-old sat at six-under while Smith aptaining Ripper GC, finished two rounds at four-under for the tournament.
Jones (two-under) and Herbert (one-under) also kept Ripper in the teams mix on a course that proved significantly tougher in round two, with the field averaging 0.36 strokes under par compared to Friday’s –1.27. Holes 6, 7 and 8 all played over par, while the closing stretch again presented a stern test. Hole 6, in particular, ranked as the most difficult on the course (+0.33 scoring average).
With Leishman close to the individual top five and Smith capable of a low one on Sunday, Ripper GC are shooting for a podium result.
