by MELBOURNE, Australia — Lucas Herbert led the way again after the second round of the Australian Open as 17-year-old South Korean amateur Hyojin Yang birdied her final hole to take the lead. The Women’s Australian Open which is played simultaneously on two courses of the same name. Melbourne’s famous sand belt.
The tournaments are using alternate tee times – and with level prize money for the second year in a row – at the par-72 Kingston Heath (par-73 for the Women’s Open) and the par-71 Victoria Golf Club.
First-round leader Herbert shot 66 on Friday at Kingston Heath for a two-round total of 14-under 129 and had a four-shot lead heading into the weekend, when only Kingston Heath will be in play.
Herbert made three birdies in a row on the back nine, but said he was scrambling.
“It was very windy and there were some tough tee shots on the back nine,” Herbert said. “I’m really proud of these last three or four holes.”
American Ryggs Johnston finished second after a score of 68 in Victoria. Elvis Smylie, who won the Australian PGA Championship last week at Royal Queensland, shot 64 at Kingston Heath and was tied for third, five shots behind Herbert.
Fellow Australian and 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith shot 72 at Kingston Heath and had a poor run on his back nine after his group which included Smylie was cautioned for slow play. Smith was eight shots behind LIV Golf teammate Herbert after two rounds.
Smith had bogeys at 10, 12 and 15 as well as a double bogey at 16 on the Kingston Heath course which will host the 2028 Presidents Cup.
“We took the clock and it didn’t look like we were playing that slow, but it felt like we were rushing,” Smith said. “I made some really bad choices mentally, I think, that led to a few bogeys. You kind of get on that train in that wind and it’s not a good place to be.”
Defending men’s champion Joaquin Niemann carded a 66 on Friday in Victoria and was 4 under, 10 shots behind.
At the Women’s Australian Open, Yang shot 71 at Kingston Heath and had a two-round total of 9-under 136 to lead by one stroke. Jiyai Shin was tied for second after a 68 at Kingston Heath.
Hannah Green, winner of the 2019 Women’s PGA Championship, finished with two birdies for a 71 in Victoria and was two shots out of fourth place.
“It was good to at least finish with two par 5s and be able to make two birdies to finish on a high note and have some good momentum going into the weekend,” Green said.
Defending champion Ashleigh Buhai shot 68 and was 4 under, five shots behind. At one point in the first round, the South African player was nine shots off the lead.
Minjee Lee, an LPGA Tour regular, shot 74 in Victoria and was 3-over while her brother, PGA Tour player Min Woo Lee, had a 69 in Victoria and was 3-under.
