Kang among 3 tied for lead at Women’s Australian Open

Karrie Webb is relishing the chance to challenge for her sixth ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open title after she moved within a shot of the lead on the third day.

The world No 1 sits two shot off the lead with three holes to play in Adelaide, needing to continue a birdie-laden round if she wishes to back up last weekend’s win at the New Zealand Open.

Nomura, who was tied for the lead with two others going into the final round at The Grange’s West course, finished with a 16-under total of 272.

Nomura clinched victory with a run of three consecutive birdies at the 15th, 16th and 17th holes that the top-ranked Ko could not match. American Danielle Kang was tied for fourth after a 73, eight strokes behind.

Nomura, who was born to a Japanese father and a Korean mother, has competed in the LPGA since 2011.

“Golf is the fight of my own, it’s not against someone else”, she said.

One of the overnight leaders, however, China’s, Haru Nomura, came back to win the title with the low round of the day. She was at nine-under 207 along with Shin and Nomura, who each carded 70s in the round.

Ko, for her part, had only one hiccup in her final round, bogeying 18 to finish the tournament 13-under as Nomura walked to the last hole, making her job that much easier.

“I’m not sure my name means the same on a leader board as perhaps it did a little while ago but I think most people respect the fact that I know how to win, and that if I’m up there with a few holes to go I probably might have a good crack at it”, she said.

“I got off to a good start, I made a couple of putts and that was it”, she said. “I still hit 14 greens [in regulation] but didn’t have a lot of decent looks at birdies”.

She had never previously won an LPGA Tour event although she did win a tournament as a professional in Japan after turning professional at 17. “When another player does it, it’s really out of my hands, ” said Ko. Next week, the two tours will sanction the Australian Ladies Masters at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast south of Brisbane.