Avani Prashanth stays second in Australian amateur golf  

Khel Today Bureau 

Melbourne: Avani Prashanth stayed in the tied second place even after a disappointing third round of 4-over 77 in  Masters of Amateurs in Southern Golf Club. Avani, who is India’s top ranked amateur, and winner of Queen Sirikit Cup in 2023, who started the day at 7-under for two rounds is now 3-under after three rounds at the Par-73 Southern Golf Club course.

The leader is Lion Higo from Gold Coast, Australia. Higo who plays US College golf in Pepperdine, had played rounds of 71-71-70

Despite the round of 77, she stays in shared second place with two other players 3-under 216. The three players bunched at second are Rianne Malixi of the Philippines, Nika Ito of Japan and Avani.

Malixi, who shot 1-over 74 in the third round after 70-72 in the first two days, rose from third to tied second at 3-under 143. Ito, the leader for first two rounds, crashed to 5-over 78. She had rounds of 68-70 on the first two days.

Avani struggled with bogeys on first and third and another on sixth. She had a fourth bogey on the 12^th, She tried comeback with birdies on 13^th and the 15^th but two bogeys on the 14^th and 18^th saw her finish the day at 4-over 77.

The other Indians were disappointing. Heena Kang had a third final round of 83 and missed the cut, which was applied after three days. The top-33 and ties will play the fourth and final round.

The co-leaders in the men’s section were Scotland’s Oliver Mukherjee (69-70-66) and Max Moring (67-67-71) at 11-under 205.

The Indian men, Rohit Narwal shot 73 after 76-70 missed the cut. Also, Sandeep Yadav (84-74-75) missed the cut. The Top-45 and ties will play the final round in men’s section.