3 minute read
Two-time major winner Minjee Lee has posted the morning's best score to move into the top 10 midway through the Australian Open third round in Melbourne.
Minjee Lee has been the big early mover in horrible conditions to start the Australian Open third round in Melbourne.
Australia's dual major winner and former world No.2 defied constant rain to carve out a superb bogey-free four-under-par 69 at Kingston Heath to storm into the top 10.
At one under, Lee was still eight shots behind South Korean halfway leader Hyojin Yang when she signed her scorecard but back with a glimmer of hope of contending on Sunday.
"I feel like I really played very poorly the last two days and today obviously the weather was not as good, but I posted a better score," Lee said.
After only arriving on Wednesday from the US and not playing Kingston Heath after the course was closed, Lee is finally starting to adjust.
"Having gone around once now, I'm a little more comfortable around the course," she said.
"To be honest, I didn't really remember too many of the finishing holes until I played them yesterday.
"So, no, it was nice today. Obviously, a little bit tougher conditions with the rain but I'm happy I posted a nice score."
Teenager Yang quickly lost her lead with two early dropped shots as her idol and former world No.1 Jiyai Shin and 20-year-old Queenslander Justice Bosio replaced her at the top at nine under.
Hannah Green was breathing down their necks early in her third round at seven under and looking ominously ready to pounce to crown her stellar 2024 with a fourth title and cherished maiden Open crown.
Two-time defending champion Ashleigh Buhai was also at seven under after collecting three birdies in her opening four holes as the rain eased somewhat.