The 2024 ISPS Australian Open has turned into a showdown of three major champions, as Jiyai Shin, Hannah Green and Ashleigh Buhai hold the top three spots heading into the final round.
Shin currently holds the top spot at -14 for the tournament after a spectacular -6 67 at Kingston Heath in the third round. Shin finished strong, with four birdies on the final six holes following a bogey on hole 11, her only of the day. The 36-year-old Korean is an 11-time winner on the LPGA Tour, including two British Open titles. She is looking for her fifth-career win in Australia.
Sitting two strokes behind her is LPGA star Hannah Green, who is looking for her fourth worldwide win of the year. The Australian, who is ranked No. 6 in the world, had a crazy run in the middle of her round, with seven birdies between holes 7 and 14. A stumble on the 17th hole, where she made double bogey, took her out of the lead, but a nice birdie on 18 puts her in good position. The 27-year-old is a six-time winner on the LPGA Tour, which includes a win at the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
Buhai, who is the two-time defending champion of the event, is also firmly in contention for a third-consecutive win here, sitting at -10 for the moment. Buhai got off to a fiery start, going -5 on the front nine, and continuing that hot streak with birdies on 11 and 14. A bogey on 15 was the only stumble for the 35-year-old from South Africa, who won the 2022 AIG Women’s Open.
Lurking just a couple shots back in the top five is rising Australian star Stephanie Kyriacou, who had a near win at the 2024 Evian Championship. If someone will crash the top of the leaderboard, it is likely to be her.
The 2024 ISPS Australian Open will be on in primetime on Golf Channel tonight.
