Shin six clear and set for record Australian Open win

Golf marvel Jiyai Shin is on track to post the most commanding victory in Australian Open women’s history.

With more shades of brilliance, Shin jumped out to a six-shot lead midway through the final round as hopes of a first home triumph in a decade evaporated at Kingston Heath.

After starting Sunday with a two-stroke advantage over Australia’s world No.6 Hannah Green, Shin collected two birdies and a chip-in eagle at the par-4 fourth hole to surge to 17 under for the championship through the front nine.

The South Korean’s nearest chaser was South Africa’s two-time defending champion Ashleigh Buhai at 11 under.

Bidding to become the first player in the tournament’s 50-year history to complete an Open hat-trick, Buhai could only manage one birdie on her front nine.

Playing in the final group with her two fellow major champions, Green bogeyed the fourth and sixth holes to fall seven shots adrift of Shin.

But much worse was to follow as Green racked up a disastrous triple-bogey seven on the seventh.

After dragging her tee shot left into the trees, the West Australian had to punch her ball out on to the sixth fairway before sinking her approach into the bunker and three-putting.

Green’s chances of winning her maiden national championship were suddenly all over.

No woman has won the Open by more than three shots but Shin was well on course to shatter that record en route to almost inevitably claiming her 65th professional victory.