Australian golfer Hannah Green has thrust herself into serious contention for an historic Olympic medal with another fine round in the women’s stroke-play event in Tokyo.
Green is sweating on a forecast typhoon clearing after powering into a share of third spot with a fighting four-under-par 67 on Friday.
With officials flagging the prospect of reducing the tournament to 54 holes because of the grim weather predicted for Saturday, Green made a critical up-and-down par at the last hole to stay in a four-way tie for third at 10 under.
If no play is possible in the final round, it’s expected the 2019 US PGA champion will share the bronze medal with New Zealand’s former world No.1 Lydia Ko, Japan’s Mone Inami and Dane Emily Kristine Pedersen.
American world No.1 Nelly Korda remains in the box seat for gold after a two-under 69 left her at 15 under for the tournament and with a two-stroke lead over India’s Ashok Aditi (68).
Green was heading south after taking a bogey at the fourth hole to fall to five under and a distant five shots out of the medal zone.
But the 2019 US PGA champion rebounded immediately, hitting the go button with brilliant burst of four birdies in five holes from the fifth to ninth.
Green picked up another shot on 15, left another birdie putt a centimetre short on 16 before making her clutch putt at 18 to be level with Ko, who shot the day’s low round with a 66, home hope Inami (68) and Pedersen (70).
Fellow Australian Minjee Lee posted a disappointing 73 to be tied for 34th at one under, nine shots adrift of third place.
No Australian has won an Olympic golf medal.
AAP
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