Lee leads the Australian Open by 3 shots, moves into a prime position for back-to-back titles
![Australia's Min Woo Lee watches his shot into the seventh...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3ANDg4ZjdlOGUtNTJjMy00%3AOGUtNTJjMy00ZmE1YTQ0%2Faustralian-open-golf.jpeg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Australia's Min Woo Lee watches his shot into the seventh green during the second round of the Australian Open Golf Championship in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. Credit: AP/Mark Baker
SYDNEY — Min Woo Lee moved into a strong position to win back-to-back titles by taking a three-shot lead halfway through the Australian Open just five days after clinching the Australian PGA Championship.
The 25-year-old Western Australian golfer moved to 12 under after a 64 at The Australian Golf Club in the second round, a day after a 67 at The Lakes course.
He holed out from a greenside bunker for the first of six birdies and finished his round with an eagle at the par-5 18th.
American Patrick Rodgers is tied for second with Connor Syme of Scotland at 9 under. He followed his opening 64 at The Lakes with a 70 at The Australian.
Joaquin Niemann of Chile and Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela were tied in fourth spot at 8 under in the Sydney tournament that features men's and women's fields and is being played on a two-venue format.
Cam Smith and Adam Scott are in a group of 12 players in 27th place. Smith had 68 on Friday and will start the weekend at 4 under just a week after missing the cut in his attempted title defense at the Australian PGA in Brisbane.
Smith, who was playing with Lee, threw a ball in the lake after a bogey at the next-to-last hole.
![Australia's Min Woo Lee, right, reacts after a putt on...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AODhkNDU0ZTMtOTk1MS00%3AZTMtOTk1MS00MTY3MjBh%2Faustralian-open-golf.jpeg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D768%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Australia's Min Woo Lee, right, reacts after a putt on the seventh green as compatriot Cam Smith watches during the second round of the Australian Open Golf Championship in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. Credit: AP/Mark Baker
“It’s going to take my best to even get close and maybe even a little bit of help,” he said. “But there’s still lots of golf left and I feel after how I played today I can still make a run at least.”
Lee's older sister, two-time major winner Minjee Lee, is in a tie for 11th after a 75 at The Australian left her even heading into the weekend.
Two-time major winner Jiyai Shin led the women’s field at 9 under, two shots clear of defending champion Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa and three ahead of fellow South Korean Jenny Shin.
Surprising first-round leader, 16-year-old local amateur Rachel Lee, had eight bogeys in a 79 at The Australian a day after carding 67 at The Lakes and slipped into a tie for 19th.
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