Firm greens a challenge as Reid seeks Turkish Airlines delight

 Turkish Airlines Ladies Open, Carya Golf Club, Belek, Turkey. May 17-20. Melissa Reid of England during the third round. Credit: Tristan Jones 

Melissa Reid slammed the sun-baked greens as “borderline unplayable” but remained on course for a wire-to-wire win in the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open in scorching Belek.

Despite being caught by Scot Pamela Pretswell after 15 holes, Reid edged ahead at the last to take a one stroke lead on 11 under par in the final at Carya Golf Club.

Reid made a slow start in unseasonable, sweltering conditions on Tuesday afternoon and played the front nine in level par before making a double bogey on the par-4 12th hole.

The 2010 tournament winner was caught at 10 under by Pretswell when the 26-year-old Scot birdied the 15th hole. 

But after both players birdied the 17th, Pretswell dropped a shot on the uphill par-4 18th to give Reid a one stroke advantage at 11 under par.

“It was really tough this afternoon,” said Reid, after a third round of one over par 74. “The greens are borderline unplayable, they are so firm. 

“We were struggling to hold wedges onto it and Gwladys hit a couple of really nice chips and they ran out 15 yards. It was tough. 

“I always felt like I was in between clubs. I was needing a nine and a half iron, eight and a half iron. I’m quite happy in a way that I’ve played it in these conditions because hopefully tomorrow I can play a bit better.”

urkish Airlines Ladies Open, Carya Golf Club, Belek, Turkey. May 17-20. Pamela Pretswell of Scotland on the first tee during the third round. Credit: Tristan Jones 

Pretswell had five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the 10th hole in her third round of 72.

She said: “It was a wee bit tougher today because the course kind of changed midway with the warm weather. The course started to dry out a bit and the greens got a little bit faster. 

“I played some good stuff but has a couple of bad holes which let me down, but I’m happy with the way I played today.”

Fellow Scot Sally Watson occupies third place after a five under par 68, while there are four Scots in the top 12 places.

Watson said: “It’s nice to have a couple of Scots up there on the leader board. It’s a good thing for Scottish golf and I’m still a couple back, so I’ll keep fighting on every shot and try to claw back shots as quickly as I can.”

Lucie Andre of France and Australian Rebecca Artis are tied for fourth place, with leading LET rookie Nanna Koertz Madsen of Denmark, England’s Dame Laura Davies, Scot Kylie Walker and Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera in a share of sixth on five under par. Scotland’s Carly Booth, Norwegian Tonje Daffinrud and Lynn Carlsson from Sweden are tied for 10th place.

The Turkish Airlines Ladies Open is the first tournament on any major golf tour to finish on a Wednesday, with the aim to increase live television coverage.  Continued sunshine is expected for Wednesday’s final round.

Turkish Airlines Ladies Open, Carya Golf Club (Par 73)

208 Melissa Reid (ENG)  65 69 74

209 Pamela Pretswell (SCO)  72 65 72

211 Sally Watson (SCO)  72 71 68

212 Rebecca Artis (AUS)  69 71 72, Lucie Andre (FRA)  71 70 71

214 Nanna Koerstz Madsen (DNK)  72 75 67, Laura Davies (ENG)  66 77 71, Gwladys Nocera (FRA)  68 70 76, Kylie Walker (SCO)  72 74 68

215 Lynn Carlsson (SWE)  72 71 72, Carly Booth (SCO)  70 70 75, Tonje Daffinrud (NOR)  75 68 72

216 Titiya Plucksataporn (THA)  71 73 72, Lina Boqvist (SWE)  73 73 70, Isabelle Boineau (FRA)  70 73 73, Bree Arthur (AUS)  76 72 68, Chloe Leurquin (BEL)  70 73 73, Beth Allen (USA)  72 71 73

217 Liz Young (ENG)  71 74 72, Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN)  80 71 66, Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA)  73 70 74

218 Camilla Lennarth (SWE)  71 71 76, Louise Stahle (SWE)  76 73 69, Emily Kristine Pedersen (DNK)  75 73 70

219 Lauren Taylor (ENG)  71 76 72

220 Malene Jorgensen (DEN)  70 75 75, Ursula Wikstrom (FIN)  72 76 72, Patricia Sanz Barrio (ESP)  74 74 72, Caroline Afonso (FRA)  76 73 71, Georgia Hall (ENG)  72 71 77, Florentyna Parker (ENG)  73 75 72, Amy Boulden (WAL)  71 70 79, Marianne Skarpnord (NOR)  72 74 74

221 Fabienne In-albon (SWI)  73 74 74, Christine Wolf (AUT)  75 74 72, Daisy Nielsen (DEN)  76 73 72, Klara Spilkova (CZE)  77 69 75, Stefania Croce (ITA)  77 74 70, Marion Ricordeau (FRA)  74 77 70

222 Caroline Martens (NOR)  69 80 73, Laura Jansone (LVA)  76 71 75, Miriam Nagl (BRA)  74 76 72

223 Maha Haddioui (MAR)  74 75 74, Stacey Keating (AUS)  77 74 72, Ann-Kathrin Lindner (GER)  76 73 74

224 Holly Clyburn (ENG)  73 74 77, Ssu-Chia Cheng (TPE)  75 73 76, Maria Balikoeva (RUS)  73 76 75, Marta Sanz Barrio (ESP)  78 73 73

225 Sophie Sandolo (ITA)  74 77 74, Noora Tamminen (FIN)  69 82 74

226 Monique Smit (RSA)  75 75 76, Lien Willems (BEL)  72 79 75, Melissa Eaton (RSA)  72 74 80, Vikki Laing (SCO)  73 70 83

227 Nicole Garcia (RSA)  75 75 77, Nina Holleder (GER)  79 72 76, Diana Luna (ITA)  75 76 76, Alex Peters (ENG)  75 76 76, Hannah Ralph (ENG)  74 76 77, Emma Westin (SWE)  78 73 76, Holly Aitchison (ENG)  75 75 77

228 Emma Goddard (ENG)  78 73 77, Csilla Lajtai-rozsa (HUN)  74 74 80, Linda Henriksson (FIN)  72 79 77

229 Steffi Kirchmayr (GER)  73 77 79

230 Martyna Mierzwa (POL)  73 77 80, Virginia Espejo (ESP)  73 74 83