It's been a frustrating return to 13th Beach for the 2014 Oates Vic Open champion Minjee Lee.
The 20-year-old is flirting with missing the third round cut, currently sitting tied for 35th at three-under par after posting her second consecutive 71 around the Beach layout.
While it will be a nervous afternoon watching the leaderboard, Lee has fought back well after opening the tournament with a one-over par 74 on Thursday and being three-over par early in her second round.
The putter let Lee down this morning, the world number 17 gave herself a lot of opportunities to climb the leaderboard but just couldn’t convert and finished with three birdies and a bogey.
If she doesn’t get through to Sunday, Lee will turn her attention to next week’s ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open at Royal Adelaide where she’s among the leading contenders for the national crown.
Regardless of the result this week, it’s been good for Lee to blow the rust out of her game haven’t not played competitively for a couple of months.
“So I’m just coming back into the swing of things. Hopefully I can get something going tomorrow if I make it (the cut),” Lee said.
“I left a lot of putts short today. But I’m striking it pretty well and I feel like I gave myself a lot of chances.
“But just made stupid mistakes here and there, that’s what really derailed me.
“It’s been really fun being out here again. I’ve been having a good time being back.”
Lee will reunite in Adelaide with her regular caddy. This week she’s had the VIS’s strength and conditioning trainer Luke Mackie on her bag.
Lee has played well in the last three Australian Opens, finishing tied for 11th (2014), tied for seventh (2015) and tied 20th last year.
“The Aussie Open is our national championship and every Australian wants to play well at their national championship,” Lee said.
There’s a bit of sibling rivalry this week with younger brother Min Woo Lee playing well in the men’s event. He started day three tied for 25th at six-under par.