They’re quick to dismiss any hint of a rivalry but there’s bound to be a tight contest between England’s Charley Hull and Holly Clyburn at Sunday’s final round of the Australian Ladies Masters.
The two Englishwomen will head into the final 18 holes tied for the lead with Korea’s Eun Woo Choi at four-under-par in what looms as a tense finish at Royal Pines.
Few could tame the mixed pace of the Royal Pines greens on Saturday, with both Hull and Choi shooting two-over 75s while Clyburn was only marginally better, finishing with a one-over 74.
Clyburn was actually in the scorer’s hut when Choi dropped the bogey on the par-four 17th, pushing her up into the lead.
The 24-year-old, who was pipped to the 2013 Ladies European Tour rookie of the year gong by 18-year-old Hull, said she wouldn’t be pushing any harder for a victory just because she will be playing alongside her compatriot.
“We’re good friends, we’ve got nothing against each other,” she said.
“I think everybody just thinks there’s a rivalry because we came on tour at the same time and had a great rookie year fight.
“Out here it’ll be actually really exciting and it’ll be a good final day.”
Hull, who began her round with a double-bogey on the par-four 1st, ended on a high with a birdie on the par-five 18th.
But a three-putt to bogey the par-four 17th was indicative of a day when even one or two better shots could have put her in a commanding position.
She said she couldn’t care less who she was playing against on the final day, her focus more on getting to grips with a course that no player has yet managed to master.
“It should be fun but it’s not who you’re playing with, you’re playing against the golf course at the end of the day,” the European tour order of merit winner said.
“You tally up the scores and see who wins.
“Holly’s a great player and a friend. I’ve known her since I was 10 or 11. I don’t see her as a rival, that’s probably something for the media.”
While there are three players at the top of the leaderboard, there’s plenty of contenders looming to strike on Sunday.
Second round leader Rebecca Artis had a horror day, shooting a six-over 79 to fall back to three-under but still in contention, just a shot off the lead.
Norway’s Tonje Daffinrud and 18-year-old Victorian Su Oh are also at three-under after both managing to go under par for the day with one-under 72s.
Another trio of players are two shots off the lead at two-under including Gold Coast-based amateur Rebecca Kay.
The 16-year-old high school student pulled off the shot of the day with a chip from light rough for eagle on the par-five 18th.
South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, the top-ranked player in the field, can also not be discounted after shooting a one-under 72 to move to one-under overall.
