Matthew on course for platinum anniversary win at Australian Women’s Open
Two decades on from securing her first tour title at the Australian Women’s Open of 1996, Catriona Matthew was in the hunt again Down Under after finishing in a share of the halfway lead at The Grange.
Matthew, the 2009 Women’s British Open champion from North Berwick, added a three-under 69 to her opening 67 for an eight-under 136 and was heading into day three tied at the top with England’s former Curtis Cup player Holly Clyburn.
“I think that’s the beauty of golf,” said the 46-year-old Scot. “Age isn’t a barrier. I would say my game is getting better actually. You’re always working on something, you’re never happy as a golfer.”
Clyburn, 25, surged up the leaderboard with a 65 while Matthew’s card included an eagle on her first hole. The British duo were a shot clear of Caroline Masson, Xiyu Lin, Haru Nomura and Jenny Shin. Glasgow’s Kylie Walker eagled her final hole in a 70 to share 11th on 140 alongside the world No 1, Lydia Ko.
In the Maybank Championship Malaysia on the European Tour, Stephen Gallacher ended a run of three successive missed cuts and was lying inside the top-20 heading into day three in Kuala Lumpur.
In an eventful round which started with a double-bogey, the former Ryder Cup player packed in three birdies, an eagle and two bogeys en route to a one-under 70 for a fourunder 138 and a share of 18th.
At the head of the field, Australia’s Nathan Holman added a 65 to his opening 64 to reach 13-under-par and finish two shots clear of England’s Richard Bland.