Grace Kim could have been excused for being more than a touch annoyed after today’s third round of the Australian Amateur, but for the cheerful 20 year old, it was a negative she was happy to let slip away.
The reigning NSW Women’s Amateur Champ was cruising at the top of the leaderboard with a handy buffer until the testing Kooyonga layout bit back hard.
“I came unglued on the back nine,” the ever-smiling Kim explained. “I put myself in some bad positions on the last couple of holes, and the three-putt mistake (on the last) cost me a bit.”
Despite the finish, she seemed already committed to putting the memory to bed.
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“On Course I was pretty angry, but I just try to hide it as much as I can.”
“It was pretty tough again, but It’s another day tomorrow.”
Courtesy of the two-over 74, Kim now finds herself a couple of shots back of Western Australian Kirstin Rudgeley heading into tomorrow’s final round. The Avondale Golf Club star knows what will be required, and it’s a challenge she is more than familiar with.
“I’ve got to be patient tomorrow,” she added.
“The course is not easy; it’s really hard to make birdies, so again, I’ve just got to make less mistakes. It’s the real big key this week.”
“Playing alongside Kirsten, I will know what the situation is.
“It’s going to be good to have the challenge of being in the same group.”
In the Men’s, Jeffrey Guan is still leading the Blues charge, despite a frustrating third round 72.
A misbehaving putter left the Australian Golf Club star wondering might have been after his up and down third round.
“Had 35 putts, couldn’t hole anything,” Guan lamented post-round. “I hit some pretty good, solid shots into the greens and made nothing.”
The past few months have been an enormous learning curve, and when asked about coping with his expectations, especially when things don’t go to plan, Guan was reflective.
“I backtrack a bit and think about the holes I need to improve on.
“Things like the couple of mistakes I made starting today.
“Hitting it straight at flags cost me three bogies,” he added.
At six shots back, the 16-year-old has more than a bit of ground to make up but intends on a significant improvement in tomorrow’s final round to at least give himself a chance.
” My Ball striking is good, and when it’s good, it gives me the confidence to hole more putts and create big chances.
” Frustrated? No I won’t be,” he smiled. “Hole more putts, I’ll be sweet.”
