Hannah Green will take a one-stroke lead into the final round as she bids to end a 12-year home drought at the Women’s Australian Open.
The West Australian carded a four-under third round of 68 at Kooyonga Golf Club, the same venue where she finished third at this tournament in 2018.
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Not since Karrie Webb won the Patricia Bridges Bowl for a fifth time in 2014 has there been an Aussie victory in this event, with Green best-placed to become just the fourth home winner and end more than a decade-long wait on Sunday.
The 29-year-old made a hot start with three birdies on her opening four holes and then cancelled out a dropped shot at the eighth with another birdie at the ninth. She then followed another bogey at the 10th with a birdie at the 11th, before making her final gain of the day at the 16th.
“I made a lot of momentum putts, a couple of really key par saves on par 3s, which then allowed me to then make a birdie on the next hole,” said the world No.9.
“Just making sure that I’m not getting too ahead of myself. I’m probably going to put too much pressure on myself tomorrow and expect everything to go close and go in. And sometimes that’s just not what the case is. I’ve just got to stay focused on what I can do.
“I know there was a couple of good rounds from people playing a little bit earlier today. So just focusing on what I’m doing and controlling what I can.”
Just one stroke behind is Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher, who is bidding to become the first South American player to win this tournament in its 52-year history.
Simmermacher carded a five-under round of 67 to move up to second place at eight-under, with world No.49 Casandra Alexander and Ford Women’s NSW Open winner Agathe Laisne in a share of third, three strokes further back at four-under.
Queenslander Karis Davidson shares fifth with West Australian Kirsten Rudgeley and France’s Celine Herbin on four-under.
