Lucas Herbert is threatening to run away with the Stonehaven Cup following a unprecedented second-round collapse from his famous person LIV Golf teammate Cameron Smith.
Herbert steadied after a quick wobble to open up a three-stroke break over the sector late in his second spherical at Kingston Heath on Friday.
Smith had been only one stroke behind in second spot after an excellent five-under-par entrance 9 however, in a dramatic twist, completed his spherical eight pictures behind Herbert.
The 2022 British Open champion imploded down the stretch after officers positioned Smith and his taking part in associate, newly topped Australian PGA champion Elvis Smylie, on the shot clock for sluggish going.
Smith racked up three birdies and a double-bogey six on the sixteenth gap after additionally copping a penalty for an unplayable lie after his errant drive.
Within the area of barely two hours, Smith adopted his outward 31 with an inward 41 to finally signal for an even-par 72.
The clock-shot warning did not faze Smylie, although, because the 22-year-old carded a elegant spherical of 64 to rocket right into a tie for third at 9 below.
He had been three over by way of seven holes on Thursday, however has since amassed 13 birdies to roar again into rivalry to finish a uncommon golden summer time double of dual victories at Australia’s two flagship golf tournaments.
Defending champion JoaquÃn Niemann was one other main mover on Friday with a 66 at Victoria.
The Chilean LIV Golf star reeled off six birdies in a seven-hole stretch, then one other two late to rise to 4 below for the championship.
His taking part in associate Min Woo Lee is one stroke additional again at three below after shaking off a dreaded double bogey on the seventeenth, his eighth gap of the day, in a spherical of 71.
