Australian Master of the Amateurs: Gough and Araki take leads into final round
Englishman John Gough returned to the top of the leaderboard at the Australian Master of the Amateurs while Yuna Araki of Japan maintained her stronghold on first place on the women's side after Thursday's third round at Southern Golf Club in Melbourne.
Gough, who opened the tournament with a course-record 64, bounced back nicely from yesterday's 74 by carding a third-round 67 (-5). At 11-under 211, Gough enjoys a one-stroke lead over Gregor Tait of Scotland, who fashioned a 4-under 68 on Thursday.
Two Chinese golfers made huge moves up the leaderboard after both matched Gough's course record with rounds of 64 on Thursday.
Chi Chun Chen's 64 rocketed him into solo third at 9-under 207 while his countryman, Stanley Lin, also shot a 64 to move into a tie for 19th at 2-under 219.
Second-round leader Taichiro Ideriha is three back after an even par round of 72 left him at 8-under 208 and tied for fourth with Australian Tyler Duncan.
On the women's side, Yuna Araki is one step closer to running the table at Southern Golf Club.
Araki, who came to Melbourne in good form after tying for third at the Asia-Pacific Amateur, shot a third-round 68 (-5) to move to 10-under 209, widening her lead to five shots over Hsin Chun Liao of Chinese Taipei.
Mamika Shinchi of Japan and reigning Australian Women's Amateur champion Fiona Xu of New Zealand are the only other two golfers in red numbers at 4-under 215.
The men's cut came at 3-over while the women's dividing line was 9-over.
ABOUT THE Master of the Amateurs
The Master of the Amateurs, a 72-hole medal play
Championship,
has rapidly become one of the
elite championships in amateur golf. Like The
Masters, the champion
receives a Green Jacket. Contestants
participate in the first round of the
championship with professional golfers in a
unique Am-Pro Invitational.
The Master of the Amateurs winner gets an
invitation to the Porter
Cup in the U.S. Likewise the winners of those
two tournaments receive invitations to the
next Master of the Amateurs tournament.
A qualifying round (see tournament
website for date and handicap requirement)
allows
three non-exempt players to earn invitations
into the prestigious field.
View Complete Tournament Information