MAJOR winner Hannah Green has the women’s Vic Open at her mercy after clearing out to a five-shot lead with one round to play at 13th Beach Golf Links.<\/p>\n
The West Australian carded a four-under 68 in tricky conditions today (Saturday, February 12) to be at 12 under, five strokes clear of Karis Davidson (68) and overnight leader Whitney Hillier, who struggled in a third round of 75.<\/p>\n
Fellow LPGA Tour regular Su Oh was in outright fourth at five under.<\/p>\n
The only other two players under par were Cassie Porter (four under) and New Zealander Momoka Kobori (three under).<\/p>\n
The sole blemish on the 25-year-old Green’s card today was a bogey-five on the 16th hole, the first shot she had dropped all week in the $410,000 tournament.<\/p>\n
She and Davidson – who has earned her LPGA Tour card for 2022 – were the only players able to break 70 on Saturday.<\/p>\n
“(Having such a big lead) is probably a little bit easier for the chasing pack,” said Green, who in 2019 became only the third Australian woman to win a major when she saluted at the PGA Championship.<\/p>\n
“They can try to post a number and hope that I crumble, I guess. That’s what everyone thinks.<\/p>\n
“I’ve never really been in this position with such a big lead so I’m excited for it.”<\/p>\n
Green extended her advantage as the wind picked up on the difficult Beach Course on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n
“It’s quite hard to hit it close on that back nine,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Even though you’ve got short clubs in, it’s still hard to get it close.<\/p>\n
“It’s getting firmer, the greens are getting a little more slick and it’s hard to stay patient.”<\/p>\n
In the men’s tournament, John Lytras still leads at 16 under and has a chance to go wire-to-wire tomorrow (Sunday, February 13).<\/p>\n
Dimi Papadatos played alongside him in the final group and had a share of the lead at one point on his way to 68. He made a great up-and-down to save par at the last, and remains the nearest challenger at 15 under.<\/p>\n
Kiwi Ben Campbell (66 today), Queenslander Aaron Pike and Victorians Zach Murray and Matthew Griffin are at 14 under and still in the mix.<\/p>\n
The men’s and women’s Vic Opens are held concurrently on the 36-hole 13th Beach layout.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MAJOR winner Hannah Green has the women’s Vic Open at her mercy after clearing out to a five-shot lead with one round to play at 13th Beach Golf Links. The West Australian carded a four-under 68 in tricky conditions today (Saturday, February 12) to be at 12 under, five strokes clear of Karis Davidson (68) […]<\/p>\n