In overcast conditions on Saturday, Min Woo Lee furthered his lead to three shots at the Australian PGA Championship after carding a 5-under 66, bringing his total to 17 under after three rounds.
“It’s a course you can shoot low, so you’ll be aggressive no matter what,” Lee said. “I’m here because I played aggressively.”
Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino surged into second place at 14 under after notching six birdies on the back nine for a 64 on Saturday, moving ahead of Curtis Luck (66) by one shot and Adam Scott by three, who slipped to fourth place after posting a third-round 71.
Marc Leishman (67) and Cam Davis (68) were part of a pack in seventh place at 9 under.
No. 45-ranked Lee and Luck were childhood rivals from Western Australia and now find themselves in the leading group on the final day after about a decade.
The 27-year-old Luck, who won the U.S. Amateur and the Asia-Pacific Amateur in 2016, is aiming to rekindle a rivalry with the up-and-coming Lee as he has struggled for consistent results since turning pro.
“I’ve just been dealing with the ebbs and flows of golf. Had a couple of rough years and seems to be coming back up again,” he said. “I’ve definitely played events where everything’s looked great, so I’m just going to obviously back myself off that experience and just try and get out there tomorrow and hopefully get it done.”
Hoshino, ranked No. 138, has won five titles on the Japanese tour since 2018 but is making his first trip to Australia and got his first taste of the so-called party hole at Royal Queensland Golf Club, the par-3 17th.
“It was the most exciting moment of my life,” he said. “The atmosphere at 17 is great.”
His 7-under 64 was the equal best round Saturday along with Connor Syme of Scotland, who moved to fifth place at 10 under, and New Zealand’s Michael Hendry, who is back on tour after treatment for blood cancer.
The tournament, a season-opener for the European tour, is being played at Royal Queensland Golf Club, the proposed golf venue for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. Local favorite and defending champion Cam Smith, the 2022 Open winner, missed the cut.
Daniel Miller takes readers to the greens with his passion for golf. He offers coverage of major golf tournaments, player achievements, and insights into the sport’s rich history, making him a trusted source for golf enthusiasts.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72931262/usa_today_21973134.0.jpg "Stay Updated on Wisconsin Badgers Transfer Portal Movements for 2023-2024 Season")
