Hannah Green became the first home golfer since 2014 to win the women’s Australian Open with a one-stroke victory in Adelaide.
Karrie Webb was the last Australian to win the women’s national open, and 54-hole leader Green was made to work hard to survive final-round charges from fellow Aussie Cassie Porter and France’s Agathe Laisne.
Porter, in particular, threatened to create a considerable upset after starting the day nine strokes adrift of Green at level par for the championship.
In one of the greatest final rounds in Australian Open history, Porter blitzed round Kooyonga Golf Club in a 10-under-par 62 to set a formidable clubhouse target.
Leading by one heading overnight, Green was made to play catch-up early on as playing partner Magdalena Simmermacher made it back-to-back birdies at the 2nd and 3rd to leapfrog the Aussie.
Green responded with a stellar birdie at the 5th to reclaim the lead as Simmermacher dropped two shots in quick succession but if she hoped to accelerate away to an easy victory, Green was to be disappointed.
With Porter flying and Laisne – playing in the group ahead – birdieing four holes in a row from the 8th, Green’s lead again evaporated and she faced a nerve-shredding finale.
A dropped shot for Laisne at the 17th proved crucial, however, as Green made a superb birdie at 16 to establish a precious two-stroke lead.
Although she also made bogey on the 17th, Green was able to protect her one-stroke lead with a steely par at the last — much to the delight of the packed gallery surrounding the putting surface.
“I like to make it really nerve-racking for myself and everyone watching,” 29-year-old Green quipped after signing off for a two-under 70 and an 11-under-par winning total.
“It was tough. I felt like I was hitting the clubs that I needed to hit, but it wasn’t actually going near the hole, so it was frustrating.
“I knew that people could come from behind today, [so I’m] just really happy to have my name on the trophy amongst all the amazing other winners.”
Green’s victory was her second on the bounce, coming hot on the heels of her 7th LPGA Tour title in Singapore earlier this month. Husband Jarryd Felton was on the bag for both.
Hannah with her support team, including husband Jarryd Felton and coach Ritchie Smith
Australia’s Karis Davidson (six under) tied for fourth, but the expected challenge of Minjee Lee and Grace Kim never materialised.
Lee signed for a one-under 71 to finish three over in a disappointing T29th, while Kim made up ground on Sunday with a five-under 67, finishing T10th at three under.
After holding a share of the halfway lead, Kirsten Rudgeley back-pedalled at the weekend to finish T14th at two under, with fellow West Aussies Maddison Hinson-Tolchard and Whitney Hillier ended the week in T29th and 67th respectively.
View the final leaderboard here.
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