3 minute read

Pre-tournament favourite Hannah Green has closed with two birdies to snare the second-round clubhouse lead at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Hannah Green has finished with a flurry to snare the second-round clubhouse lead at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Green birdied her last two holes in a one-under-par 71 at Victoria Golf Club on Friday to join first-round co-leaders Su Oh and South Korean amateur Hyojin Yang at seven under for the championship.

After a birdie at the second hole, the world No.6 made three bogeys mid-round to be ambling along before firing up late to keep alive her hopes of a weekend grouping with her best mate Oh.

Oh and Yang both had afternoon tee times and hopes of kicking clear again after sizzling opening rounds.

Former amateur star Justice Bosio was eight under and the on-course leader with three holes of her second round to play. 

Two-time defending champion Ashleigh Buhai was the morning's big mover.

Playing with Green, the South African carded a 68 to climb into a tie for fifth at four under.

Buhai had fallen nine shots off the pace on Thursday when she slumped to three over, but clawed her way back to even par before producing a bogey-free second round. 

Green was as much surprised with her six-under-par start on Thursday, after only arriving from the US on Wednesday, and she was delighted to see Oh emerge from the golfing doldrums to grab a share of the lead.

After losing full LPGA Tour playing rights last year, Oh earned a meagre $US7414 ($A11,400) on the secondary Epson Tour in 2024 before turning to Ritchie Smith, the revered coach of Green and fellow Perth prodigies Minjee and Min Woo Lee.

After playing her first Australian Open at a record 12 years of age and rising to world No.1 amateur, Oh has now positioned herself nicely to reverse her fortunes in stunning fashion with a first victory in more than two years.

But she will likely have to fend off Green, who hopes to duel with the Victorian on Saturday and Sunday.

"Obviously she (Oh) is my best friend so I was kind of bummed that we weren't on the same side of the draw and that we hadn't really seen each other a whole lot just yet," Green said.

"But, yeah, I'm super happy for her.

"She's obviously had a tough couple of years so a win for her this week or even just a great result will really help her going into next year's season.

"Hopefully I can, you know, be paired with her on the weekend."