Connor Syme in ‘good spot’ as he chases in-form Min Woo Lee in Australian Open

In-form Min Woo Lee stepped up his bid for a dream double by storming into a three-shot lead but Connor Syme reckons he’s still in a “good spot” at the halfway stage in the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.

Lee, who won his third DP World Tour title at last week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, carded a seven-under-par round of 64 at The Australian Golf Club to sit on the top of the leaderboard on 12 under par.

The 2021 Genesis Scottish Open champion, who has Edinburgh man Stuart Davidson on his bag, could be tough to catch as he’s showing exactly why he’s been tipped by some to reach the very top of the ladder.

But, after following his opening 64 with a 70 to sit in joint-second alongside American Patrick Rodgers, Syme is relishing the challenge of trying to catch Lee over the weekend as the 2016 Australian Amateur champion chases a maiden win on the circuit.

Connor Syme pictured during the second round of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images.

“It was really quick out of the blocks, which was obviously brilliant, and then kind of trickier, to be honest,” Syme said of his second cycle at The Lakes Golf Club, where he started with four birdies in his first five holes before finishing in two over par.

“I just struggled a little bit with my irons on my second nine, and the way the pins are, if you’re a little off, it makes it tricky.” I made a number of excellent par saves but couldn’t get close enough to score many birdies coming in, which was disappointing but still put me in a strong position.”

Lee recovered from a bogey on the first hole with a chip-in birdie from a greenside bunker on the fourth and another gain on the eighth to make the turn one under par. He subsequently completed his final eight holes in only 30 strokes and is now trying to become the first DP World Tour player since Christiaan Bezuidenhout in 2020 to win back-to-back events.

“It was unreal,” the 25-year-old stated. “I didn’t think we’d be able to top last week’s attendance, but we’re almost there before the weekend, which is incredible.” It’s a lot of fun. Most of my golf has been excellent because of the audience and encouragement, and I am grateful.

Grant Forrest (71) is tied for seventh place on seven under par, four shots ahead of Calum Hill (70), but Bob MacIntyre’s calendar year campaign is gone after missing the cut by five strokes after a 77.

The competition is also held alongside the ISPS HANDA Women’s Open and the Australian All Abilities Championship.

In the women’s event, which is also being played on both courses, South Korean champion Jiyai Shin leads by two strokes on nine under, with Scottish trio Kylie Henry and Michele Thomson both making the cut on two over and four over, respectively.

The Australian is hosting the three-round All Abilities Championship, and the last day is tense, with three players – Irishman Brendan Lawlor and home favourites Cameron Pollard and Lachlan Wood – sharing the lead on one over.

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