Malixi hangs on with 74

MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion Rianne Malixi recovered from a shaky start and fired three closing birdies to card a one-over 74 in the opening round of the Women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs yesterday in Victoria, Australia.

Malixi, the No. 3 ranked amateur in the world, stumbled with five bogeys against a single birdie in the front nine of the Southern Golf Club but showed grit in picking herself up and charging at the finish.

After a birdie-bogey showing in the 11th and 14th, the 17-year-old Pinay ace rallied and gained a stroke in her last three holes to stay in the thick of the fight in her title defense in the season-opening tournament.

Malixi’s first-round effort put her in joint 13th – six shots off eagle-firing Australian Sarah Hammett (68). 

Hammett turned in nines of 33-35 spiked by an eagle on No. 5 en route grabbing pole position and a two-shot upperhand against compatriots Ella Scaysbrook and Raegan Denton who had identical 70s.

The 17-year-old Malixi ruled the 2024 edition of the prestigious tournament by one shot, rallying from four shots down in the final round.