American rookie Ryggs Johnston fired a four-under-par 68 to reel in LIV Golf's Lucas Herbert for a share of the lead at the DP World Tour co-sanctioned Australian Open on Saturday. But Johnston, who came through the DP World Tour qualifying school this year,

American rookie Ryggs Johnston is set for a showdown with Lucas Herbert for the Australian Open trophy, as Cameron Smith drops from contention. In the women's event, South Korean Shin Jiyai holds a two-stroke lead over Hannah Green,

Lucas Herbert has held his chasers at bay to retain the Australian Open lead after a wet and wild third round at Kingston Heath.

Lucas Herbert clung to a share of the lead at his home Australian Open on Saturday as American rookie Ryggs Johnston made a charge in a waterlogged third round and favourite Cameron Smith crashed out of contention.

Jiyai Shin's stunning finish hands her a lead over Aussie hope Hannah Green, while Ryggs Johnston, named after Mel Gibson's character from the Lethal Weapon franchise, shares top spot in the men's event with Victorian Lucas Herbert.

Lucas Herbert admitted his desperation to win the national title may have caused him to tighten up in the third round of the Australian Open as he shot even par on a drenched Kingston Heath to allow his opponents back into the contest after starting the weekend with a four-shot lead.

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE (Reuters) -American rookie Ryggs Johnston booked a shootout with home hero Lucas Herbert for the Australian Open trophy at waterlogged Kingston Heath on Saturday as favourite Cameron Smith crashed out of contention.

Unheralded American Ryggs Johnston has joined home hope and halfway frontrunner Lucas Herbert in the Australian Open lead after a wet and wild third round.