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| Ariya Jutanugarn |
16-year-old Australian amateur Su-Hyun Oh will calm her nerves by eating cookies and cream ice-cream as she shares the lead heading into the final round of the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters being played at the RACV Royal Pines Resort in Queensland.
Oh carded an impressive eight-under-par 64 and sits atop of the leaderboard at 10-under-par with rookie Ariya Jutanugarn (65) from Thailand.
American Jessica Korda (68) and Australian Stacey Keating (67) are just one back, while another Australian and seven-time Masters champion Karrie Webb (66) and South Korean Chella Choi (67) are right in contention at eight-under-par.
American Dori Carter (69), Swede Pernilla Lindberg (67) and first round leader Alison Walshe (71) share seventh position at a further shot back.
Meanwhile American Aimee Neff used her 7-iron when she holed out on the par 3 11th. It was her sixth hole in one and it was the fourth time with her 7-iron. $10,000 will be donated to SIDS.
Oh, who was out early, fired a superb bogey free round. She recorded birdies on the 3rd, 4th, 7th and 8th holes to go out in 32. The Victorian then birdied the par 5 12th and 15th holes before finishing off by sinking a 15 foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th.
When asked about the eagle putt on 18, she replied “Yeah, I really wanted to hold that because I missed my opportunity on the 15th and I really want to get it on the 18th where everybody was so I could fist-pump.”
She explained the difference between her first and second rounds was better placement with her approach shots.
I was happy with yesterday’s round, I think today I hit into better spots on the green, so it was on easy side of the hole and if I just got the speed right, it went in. I think I averaged about 20 feet from the hole for my birdie putts so it was ok.”
When asked how she will calm her nerves before the final round, she responded “I don’t really feel nervous at the moment. I don’t know. Eat some ice cream.”
While 17-year-old Jutanugarn, who is playing in her first LET event as a professional, carded eight birdies and one bogey in her round of 65.
“It was a very good round. Today my putting helped me a lot but I still missed some at three feet.” She commented after her round.”
The exciting talent didn’t even get a practice round in due to the wet weather, so she was thankful to her caddie: “Yes it was very hard, but I am lucky to have a good caddie: he tells me the way to go.”
The players at the top will be looking out for Webb and the World Golf Hall of Famer is looking to equal Sam Snead’s record of eight tour wins at the same event. The seven-time major champion is very happy with her position and round today.
“I got off to a great start, which was good. There was a little lull there through the middle but a nice finish. Two shots behind. When I teed off 10 under was leading, so I thought if I could get within three or four of that I’d have a good shot tomorrow. So 66, I’m really happy with that,” Webb said.
Korda will be looking to add another Australian tournament win to her ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open she won last year, while Keating will be looking for her first major tournament victory on home soil.
The cut was made at two-over par and 60 players will contest the final round. The defending champion, Christel Boeljon is well off the pace at one-over-par.
