Korean amateur Hyojin Yang leads Australian Open from Justice Bosio in her fourth event as a pro

With several big names battling an emerging star surged on day two at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Justice Bosio only made her professional debut in October but the 20-year-old Queenslander has wasted no time making an impression after surging into contention at the Australian Open as young stars stole the show.

Amateur Korean teenager and first-round co-leader Hyojin Yang, who is only 17 and staying at a $117 a night hotel for the event, holds a one-shot lead over Bosio and two-time major champion and former world No.1 Jiyai Shin going in to the weekend.

“It’s my first time playing here so very happy. I’m nervous. It is fun but probably more nervous but we will enjoy it tomorrow,” Yang said.

Hyojin Yang of Korea leads the Australian Open. Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

World No.5 Hannah Green looms large also, a shot further back at seven-under while her fellow major winner Minjee Lee managed to make the cut, just, after a one-over 74 left her at three-under.

“Yeah, I had a few errant tee shots today and got myself in some tricky positions around the greens, which was difficult to try and make up and down to even sometimes to even save bogey,” Green, who is looking to end a 10-year drought of Australian winners said.

“But yeah, it was nice to at least finish at least with two par fives and be able to get two birdies to finish on a positive note and good momentum going into the weekend.”

After an early morning tee time on Friday, Bosio, who didn’t get into the clubhouse at Kingston Heath until 6pm on Thursday, closed with two birdies at Victoria to lead Hannah Green by one shot.

Playing just her fourth event as a professional, Bosio couldn’t hide the fact her prominent position at the halfway mark was “surprising”.

“Yeah, I don’t know. It’s pretty, as I said before, pretty surprising I think,” he said.

“I know that my game is there and I have been working really hard lately. But yeah, it’s just been really cool to see that the hub of hard work is paying off these last two days and I’ve got some good rounds out there, but still lots of work to go.”

Justice Bosio took the clubhouse lead after her second round at the Australian Open. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)

Two-time defending champion, South African Ashleigh Buhai, also quietly put herself in a good position heading in to the weekend with a second round 68 to sit at four-under and within touching distance of the leaders.

The former British Open champ is looking to become the first woman to win three Australian Opens in a row,

“To be honest, I haven’t put too much pressure on myself this week,” she said.

“It’s in the back of my mind, but I got nothing to prove, I won it twice. Obviously a third would be great, but I think I just got to get the putter a little hotter then maybe I’ll have a chance.”

Originally published as Korean amateur Hyojin Yang leads Australian Open from Justice Bosio in her fourth event as a pro