Leona Maguire slips nine behind in Saudi Arabia
Leona Maguire’s hopes of notching her first LET win evaporated in the desert air when she carded a third-round 74 in the Aramco Ladies International in Saudi Arabia.
The world number 27 started the day just four shots off the lead after she followed an opening 76 with a spectacular eight-under 64 as she chases a $750,000 payday.
The Co Cavan star (29) started well by picking up a shot at the par-five second. But nothing went her way after that and having found all 18 greens in regulation on Friday, she struggled to find them in round three and fell from fourth to tied 21st on two-under.
Bogeys at the seventh, 13th and 14th left the European Solheim Cup star nine strokes behind Patty Tavatanakit, who carded a three-under 69 to lead by three strokes from Germany’s Esther Henseleit, who shot a bogey-free 65, on 11-under-par at Riyadh Golf Club.
Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen shot a bogey-free 66 to lurk just four shots off the lead alongside England’s Charlie Hull, who shot 68.
Hull revealed that her preparations were disrupted when her hotel room required emergency attention in the middle of the night as heavy rain and thunderstorms swept through the desert of the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh causing havoc.
“I had planned to do some sprints in a circuit this morning, but my room decided to flood – so I had to have plumbers in from 1 am until 3:30 am in the morning,” said an upbeat Hull following her successful day.
“After that, I didn’t really fancy getting up to do too much of a workout, but I’m certainly much more awake now after that round.”
Major champion Tavatanakit pointed to her mental strength as key to overcoming some recent struggles as she seeks her first win since she captured the ANA Inspiration three years ago.
“Overall, I was pleased with the mentality out there,” she said. “I feel like I had a really good mindset with how the round started.
“It was just kind of slow. I feel like I didn’t mishit a shot today. But on one hole, I went over the green, I just hit it too good.
“Looking back on the last few years, now still I feel like I’m still trying to get over that, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. If anything, it just put me where I need to be right now at the present moment.
“I’m really grateful for all the struggles because it taught me and I grew from it. I learned a lot and I’m a better person and player for it.
“I think tomorrow, all I want to do is make the right choices each and every shot, and whatever it is that I’m going to face, I’m up for it.
“I know it’s not going to be easy. Just making the right choices and committing to my processes is something I’m going to do tomorrow.”
On the Challenge Tour, Mark Power and Conor Purcell were the only Irish players to survive the 54-hole cut in the Dimension Data Pro-Am at Fancourt.
Power made six birdies in a four-under 68 at the Outinequa Course to share 35th on three-under with Purcell, who posted a three-over 76 at The Links, the toughest of the three courses used for the event.
France’s David Ravetto managed a two-under 71 there to go into the final round two shots ahead of South Africa’s Franklin Manchest on 12-under.
Richard O’Donovan shot a one-under 72 at The Links. It missed the level par cut by a shot.
Jonathan Caldwell missed by two shots on three-over after a 73 at Outeniqua, with Gary Hurley four-over after a 76 at The Links.
Ronan Mullarney shot 73 and Dermot McElroy a 76 at Outeniqua to finish on seven and nine-over, respectively.
