Closing eagle puts dominant Olivia on course for Welsh win and title hat-trick
Olivia Mehaffey's magical run of form continued at Southerndown when she eagled the 18th to take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Welsh Ladies Open Strokeplay and set up the possibility of a third championship victory in as many weeks.
The 17-year old Royal County Down international parred her first 10 holes before bogeys at the 11th, 13th and 15th left her three over for the day. But she finished on a high with a three at the 18th for a second successive 73 and a three shot advantage on two over par from Rotherham's Olivia Winning.
Mehaffey is going for a hat-trick of spring victories having claimed her third Irish Girls Open Strokeplay on the trot at Roganstown a fortnight ago before winning the Helen Holm Scottish Ladies Open Strokeplay at Royal Troon last weekend.
Castletroy's Chloe Ryan shot a second successive 77 to share fifth on 10 over with Skerries' Maria Dunne tied ninth on 12 over following a second round 78.
Hole-by-hole scores
Welsh Ladies Open Strokeplay, Southerndown GC (Par 72)
1 MEHAFFEY, Olivia Royal County Down +2 F +1 73 73 146
2 WINNING, Olivia Rotherham +5 F +3 74 75 149
3 BROWN, Penelope Worthing +6 F +3 75 75 150
4 POPEL, Bethan Long Ashton +9 F +4 77 76 153
T5 CLEWS, Gemma Delamere Forest +10 F +5 77 77 154
T5 LEWIS, Georgia Llanishen +10 F +5 77 77 154
T5 RYAN, Chloe Castletroy +10 F +5 77 77 154
8 GILLUM, Katrina Lilleshall Hall +11 F +5 78 77 155
T9 DUNNE, Maria Skerries +12 F +6 78 78 156