Grace Kim will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Australian Master of the Amateurs after firing a one-over par 73 in trying conditions at Royal Melbourne Golf Club late today.
Kim had darted out to a four-shot lead at one stage, but with the strengthening southwesterly making life tough on the greens, the 18-year-old came back to the field with a couple of dropped shots to finish her round.
“I played well till the 13th,”
“I put myself in a bad position in the bunker then made a couple of bogies to finish of the round, but I’m pretty proud of myself the way I hung in there,” Kim said after the round.
Kim said that unlike the opening two rounds, the course had bared its teeth today.
“You can’t slack off here.
“One bad shot and it can hurt. You need to stay in the present; otherwise, it can get ugly.
She was, however, happy taking the lead into the final round, saying the key to grabbing the win will be as much as a mental challenge as it is a physical one.
“I know it’s out there.. don’t get ahead of myself and don’t look back,” she smiled.
Within striking distance of Kim is Victorian Julianne Soo, and Kim’s NSW teammate, Stephanie Kyriacou, who both carded matching three-over par 75’s.
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Playing two groups in front of Kim, Kyriacou was quietly going about her work and had actually grabbed a share of the lead until double bogeying the 16th. She compounded the error with bogey on the 17th, but clawed it back quickly with a clutch birdie on the last.
“I was kind of happy with my play today,” Kyriacou said.
“I let a few putts slip away, it was really hard with the winds; The greens are so much firmer and faster.
“I made a couple of birdies which helped, and the one on the 18th was a good way to finish,” Kyriacou added.