2 DECEMBER, 2023 - DP WORLD TOUR: Min Woo Lee and Rikuya Hoshino will go head-to-head in the final round of a DP World Tour event for a second consecutive week as they share the lead at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
The pair played together in the final round of last week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, which home favourite Lee won by three strokes from Hoshino, of Japan.
Lee, who won his third DP World Tour title in Brisbane last Sunday, started the third round at The Australian Golf Club three strokes ahead, but couldn’t follow up yesterday’s seven under par 64 as he settled for a one under par 70.
Hoshino, seeking a maiden DP World Tour title, surged up the leaderboard with a six under par 65, the joint-lowest round of the day. The six-time Japan Golf Tour winner briefly held the clubhouse lead on 13 under, but was joined on that number after Lee birdied the 18th hole. “It was a bit of a grind" SAID LEE. It wasn’t the easiest of rounds like the last five I’ve played. But golf is golf. I felt like I got a little unlucky with some lip-outs towards the end, but it is what it is. Again, I hit some decent shots and hit some poor ones, but yeah, it was nice to make an up and down from a pretty average lie in that bunker (on 18). It was great to get the, I guess, momentum and hopefully I can bring it on to tomorrow.
“Obviously it is towards the end of the year and last round of the year is tomorrow, but it’s just another reason to give it my all before I take a break. I’m pretty happy with the game and I feel fine.”
They will play in the final group on Sunday alongside Alex Fitzpatrick, of England, who is also hunting a first DP World Tour victory. The Englishman was one over through his front nine, but carded four birdies and an eagle as he came home to sign for a five under par 66 and a 12 under par total.
Patrick Rodgers of the United States shares third with Fitzpatrick after a three under 68 and three-time DP World Tour winner Lucas Herbert is one stroke further back on 11 under.
The tournament is being played concurrently with the ISPS HANDA Women’s Open, with defending champion Ashleigh Buhai, who also won the 2022 AIG Women’s Open, three strokes ahead on 12 under par going into the final day.
Fellow past champion Jiyai Shin is second on nine under, with Min Woo Lee’s sister Minjee joining them in the final group as she sits on five under par.
Australia’s Lachlan Wood claimed the first trophy of the week, the ISPS HANDA Australian All Abilities Championship, winning the first event on the 2024 G4D Tour schedule.
Wood carded a final round one under par 70 to win the 54-hole event by three strokes from World Number Two Brendan Lawlor.
The pair played together in the final round of last week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, which home favourite Lee won by three strokes from Hoshino, of Japan.
Lee, who won his third DP World Tour title in Brisbane last Sunday, started the third round at The Australian Golf Club three strokes ahead, but couldn’t follow up yesterday’s seven under par 64 as he settled for a one under par 70.
Hoshino, seeking a maiden DP World Tour title, surged up the leaderboard with a six under par 65, the joint-lowest round of the day. The six-time Japan Golf Tour winner briefly held the clubhouse lead on 13 under, but was joined on that number after Lee birdied the 18th hole. “It was a bit of a grind" SAID LEE. It wasn’t the easiest of rounds like the last five I’ve played. But golf is golf. I felt like I got a little unlucky with some lip-outs towards the end, but it is what it is. Again, I hit some decent shots and hit some poor ones, but yeah, it was nice to make an up and down from a pretty average lie in that bunker (on 18). It was great to get the, I guess, momentum and hopefully I can bring it on to tomorrow.
“Obviously it is towards the end of the year and last round of the year is tomorrow, but it’s just another reason to give it my all before I take a break. I’m pretty happy with the game and I feel fine.”
They will play in the final group on Sunday alongside Alex Fitzpatrick, of England, who is also hunting a first DP World Tour victory. The Englishman was one over through his front nine, but carded four birdies and an eagle as he came home to sign for a five under par 66 and a 12 under par total.
Patrick Rodgers of the United States shares third with Fitzpatrick after a three under 68 and three-time DP World Tour winner Lucas Herbert is one stroke further back on 11 under.
The tournament is being played concurrently with the ISPS HANDA Women’s Open, with defending champion Ashleigh Buhai, who also won the 2022 AIG Women’s Open, three strokes ahead on 12 under par going into the final day.
Fellow past champion Jiyai Shin is second on nine under, with Min Woo Lee’s sister Minjee joining them in the final group as she sits on five under par.
Australia’s Lachlan Wood claimed the first trophy of the week, the ISPS HANDA Australian All Abilities Championship, winning the first event on the 2024 G4D Tour schedule.
Wood carded a final round one under par 70 to win the 54-hole event by three strokes from World Number Two Brendan Lawlor.
