Sara Byrne eyes maiden win in Spain
Douglas’ Sara Byrne has her maiden professional win in her sights after she fired a four-under 68 to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Iberdrola Calatayud Ladies Open on the LET Access Series in Spain.
The former Curtis Cup star (23) made eight birdies in her first 12 holes as she bids for a major confidence boost heading into the LPGA Qualifying Tournament later this month.
Despite dropping three shots in her last six holes, she leads by a shot from Norway’s Tina Mazarino and France’s Marine Griffaut on nine-under and hopes to complete a magical recent run with a win in just her fourth start as a pro on the LET’s second tier circuit.
“I don’t mind being in the front; I just want to keep that mentality and go as low as possible,” the Cork star said. “I came here with the intention to win. It would be a great start to my professional career.”
After helping Great Britain and Ireland win the Curtis Cup at Sunningdale, Byrne was 13th in her pro debut in the LETAS Rose Ladies Open before finishing 41st in the La Sella Open in Spain and 28th in the French Open on the LET.
“I’m taking it all in my stride and I just want to lean into it as much as possible. I came here to win and if I can do that, it would be amazing.”
Annabel Wilson, who shared the lead with Byrne after day one, fell back to 27th on level par after a 77.
In the PGA Tour’s Sanderson Farms Championship, Séamus Power fired a five-under 67 to lie just four shots behind clubhouse leader Beau Hossler on 11-under at halfway in Mississippi.
Power turned in one-under at the Country Club of Jackson before sandwiching a chip in eagle two at the 15th between birdies at the 13th and 16th.
Meanwhile, Pádraig Harrington leads the Irish at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after carding a two-under 70 at Kingsbarns.
He was tied for 37th on seven-under, seven shots behind Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, whose seven-under 65 at Carnoustie left him tied for the lead with Australia’s Cameron John, who shot 68 on the Old Course.
Holywood’s Tom McKibbin shot 68 at Carnoustie to move into a tie for 49th on six-under alongside Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy, who shot 70 and 69 respectively at Kingsbarns.
But Alex Maguire’s 71 at Kingsbarns left him seven shots outside the projected 54-hole cut on one-over.
Meanwhile, Cormac Sharvin birdied three of his last four holes to lead the Irish into the final round of the D+D REAL Czech Challenge.
He shot a three-under 67 to share 15th on 12-under at Royal Beroun, ten strokes behind Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Follett-Smith.
Paul McBride was 31st on 10-under after a 66 and Conor O’Rourke 38th on nine-under after a 67. But Paul Dunne’s level par 70 left him 48th on eight-under alongside Stuart Grehan, who shot 67.
