Tag: 2022 ISPS Handa Australian Open

Aussies fall short Sunday of men’s, women’s titles at home ISPS Handa Australian Open

The final round wasn’t kind to the Aussies playing in their national open.

The unique ISPS Handa Australian Open – held over two courses with men’s, women’s and all-abilities divisions playing concurrently – featured a trio of great finishes on Sunday, but the final round wasn’t kind to the natives in their national open.

On the men’s side, 54-hole leader Adam Scott struggled to a 2-over 72 thanks to a crucial double-bogey on the par-4 17th. After making eagle at the par-5 18th the previous two rounds at Victoria Golf Club, the 2013 Masters champion instead signed for a par on Sunday to seal his runner-up fate at 9 under. Adrian Meronk, on the other hand, eagled the final hole to sign for a 4-under 66 to extend his winning margin to five shots at 14 under.

Two more Aussies finished in the top five as Aussie Min Woo Lee placed third at 8 under, with Haydn Barron T-4 at 7 under alongside Alejandro Canizares.

“I’m super excited and to finish like that on the 18th hole is just unreal,” said Meronk.

On the women’s side, three Aussies finished Nos. 3-5 while Ashleigh Buhai claimed a one-shot win over Jiyai Shin at 12 under after Shin missed a putt to force a playoff on the final hole. Hannah Green led after 54 holes, but similar to Scott, a 2-over 72 on Sunday saw her fall off the pace to finish two shots back in third at 10 over. Grace Kim was 2 under through 15 holes in the final round but a costly double-bogey on the par-5 18th brought her back to even on the day and fourth at 9 under for the tournament. Minjee Lee shot a 1-under 71 to finish fifth at 8 under.

Kipp Popert won the all-abilities division with ease thanks to the lone round under par on Sunday, a 3-under 69. Currently No. 1 on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability, Popert finished the three-round event at 2 under, seven shots clear of runner-up Kurtis Barkley.

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Adam Scott surges into lead after second round of ISPS Handa Australian Open

Adam Scott moved up the leaderboard on Friday.

With the DP World Tour’s 2023 season getting underway with two events in Australia in the past two weeks, it was to be expected to see many Aussies playing in their home country.

After the second round at the 2022 ISPS Handa Australian Open, It’s looking as if a native could capture the trophy for the second straight week.

Last week, it was World No. 3 Cameron Smith coming away with the title. Now, Adam Scott is looking for a win Down Under. Scott fired a 7-under 63 at Victoria Golf Club on Friday in Melbourne, capped with an eagle on the closing par-5 18th to move into a share of the lead following the second round.

“It was a good day,” the 42-year-old Scott said. “There’s a lot of trouble out here, and I was aware of it every hole. I managed to stay out of it most of today. Turned things around and in a good spot going into the weekend.”

Scott’s round consisted of five birdies and the eagle. On Thursday, he shot 1 under at Kingston Heath Golf Club, a round that included seven birdies but also four bogeys and a double.

He shares the lead with David Micheluzzi, who matched Scott’s 71 with one of his own on Friday at Kingston Heath. The duo has a three-shot lead over a trio of players tied for third.

Smith shot his second straight round of 1 over on Friday, but he made the cut on the number.

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