Date: October 02, 2017
Author: Mark Hayes

Green on edge of battlefield win

Hannah Green stands one good night's sleep from taking another remarkable step in an already remarkable season.

The West Australian dropped a birdie putt on the ninth hole of the final round, seconds before play was called for the night on the weather-lashed IOA Golf Classic in Florida.

Green, and the rest of the Symetra Tour, will return for a Monday (US time) finish to the 54-hole event after completing the second round earlier today.

Chasing her third win of the season — and automatic battlefield promotion to the LPGA Tour — Green is two strokes clear at 13 under playing in the final group.

Having only finished her second round on Sunday afternoon (local time), Green admitted between rounds two and three that it had been a tiring week.

“I know we’ve only played 36 holes, but it feels like 72,” the Golf Australia rookie pro said.

“It’s crazy that we are on a Sunday afternoon and have only played 36. Definitely very mentally tough this week having to stay patient. It’s a lot more mentally draining than physically.”

Green has two wins this season on the Symetra Tour and the $US22,500 for a third would jump her to third on the Race for the Card money list.

The Mount Lawley member would become the third player this season to cross $100,000 in earnings, beating the previous mark of two set last year.

She already has enough cash from the money list to guarantee herself LPGA Tour status next year, but the automatic promotion for a third win would put her alongside Denmark's Nanna Madsen in that rarely used category.

Green's nearest rival is American Katelyn Dambaugh, who also birdied the ninth hole just before play was called off to reach four under for her round and 11 under in total.

Earlier, Green followed her opening seven-under-par 64 with another sizzling 67 to reach 11 under after 36 holes.

The dual Karrie Webb Series scholarship winner dropped a shot on the fifth hole in her final round for just her second bogey of the week.

But birdies on the second, fourth and ninth have her well placed given she has played the back nine in a combined seven under through the first two rounds.

Rebecca Artis (-3), of New South Wales, and Queenslander Emily McLennan (-1) both have the misfortune of coming back tomorrow to complete one hole, while Victorian Wanasa Zhou is two under with five to play.

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