Meadow slips back in Abu Dhabi
Stephanie Meadow
Stephanie Meadow birdied the last for a level par 72 but still slipped to tied 14th behind England’s Georgia Hall heading into the final round of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open in Abu Dhabi.
The Jordanstown talent had four birdies and four bogeys on her card but at seven under par, she's eight strokes behind Hall, who fired a third round of 67 in hot and breezy conditions at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club to take a one stroke lead from Australian Sarah Kemp (67) into Saturday's final round.
England’s Melissa Reid and Beth Allen of the United States are a shot further behind on 13-under-par as halfway leader Olafia Kristinsdottir fell to joint fifth on 11 under after a 74 alongside Finn Minea Blomqvist.
England’s Holly Clyburn and Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera are tied for seventh place on 10-under-par.
Hall, went to the turn in two-under 34 but picked up the pace on the back nine, coming back in 33 with three straight birdies from the 14th hole.
“I hit every fairway, so I’m happy about that. On 14 I hit it to one and a half foot, so that was almost a tap-in and probably the best shot of the day,” she said.
“After the great round yesterday I tried to forget about it and act like I just shot level par and I did that. I stayed patient on the front nine, because I had a silly three-putt from about 12 feet, but I’m happy with that five-under and looking forward to tomorrow.”
Hall’s closest challenger, Kemp, was slightly disappointed after taking a bogey on the tough par-4 18th, where she missed the green, but she said: “I played the front nine well. Mel and I had it going, so that was fun. The back nine plays a little bit tougher. Overall it was a good day.”
