Adam Scott, Green lead at men’s-women’s Australian Open

By: Bruce Matthews, The Associated Press Posted: 8:58 PM CST Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 Last Modified: 2:10 AM CST Friday, Dec. 2, 2022

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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Major winners Adam Scott and Hannah Green underlined their big-event mentality to move into contention after two rounds of the concurrent Australian Open men’s and women’s golf championships.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/12/2022 (1369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Scott shot a bogey-free 7-under 63 Friday to equal the host club Victoria’s course record also carded by local pro David Micheluzzi in the opening round.

The pair will go head-to-head in the final group on Saturday after Micheluzzi carded a steady 71 at Kingston Heath to be tied for the lead with Scott at 8-under 134.

Australia's Minjee Lee tees off on the 12th hole during the Australian Open golf championship at Kingston Heath golf course in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Championship favorite and British Open champion Cameron Smith had a nervous afternoon before eventually making the weekend right on the cut line at 2-over after a 73 Friday.

Men and women are playing off alternate tees at both courses over the first two rounds. in a historic first for a national golf championship.

There was a 36-hole cut of the top 60 and ties for both championships on Friday and there will be a second cut of the top 30 and ties following play on Saturday.

Green had five birdies in her last eight holes to take the halfway lead at 11-under 134 in the women’s event.

She described the 6-under 66 as “my best ball-striking round of the year” and added “I felt like I hit pretty much where I wanted to.”

The West Australian heads a star-laden women’s leaderboard with five past major winners in the top six players that also contains first-round leader Grace Kim.

South Korea’s Jiyai Shin, Green’s playing partner for the first two rounds, had seven birdies in her 68 to sit at 9-under, two shots ahead of compatriot So Yeon Ryu, Women’s British Open champion Ashleigh Buhai and Kim.

Australian Minjee Lee continued her steady climb up the leaderboard to be sixth at 5-under, six shots off the pace heading into the third round. Lee shot her second consecutive 70 on Friday.

Five-time Australian Open champion Karrie Webb, who is semi-retired, had a 3-under 70 at Kingston Heath. She’s 13 shots behind her compatriot Green.

Scott found his putting touch on Victoria’s fast and true greens, rolling in a left-to-right eagle attempt from off the fringe of the 18th green.

“It was a good day — a lot of solid stuff and I just worked my way around the course,” Scott said. “There’s a lot of trouble out here and I was aware of it every hole but I managed to stay out of it most of the day, whereas yesterday I was in most of the day. So I turned things around and am in a good spot going into the weekend.”

The final two rounds will be played at Victoria Golf Club.

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