(Wiener Neustadt, Austria – 28 May 2005) Gwladys Nocera from France took the outright lead after round three of the €250,000 Siemens Austrian Ladies Open Powered by EVN.
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| Federica Piovano |
“I putted really well. Focused on my game and thought about what was going to happen next. I’m pretty happy. When I missed greens I was really close so I didn’t really have any bad shots all day.”
Piovano played in the final group with Davies and Nocera and relished the experience. The 23-year-old from Rome said: “I was amazed by Laura. She hits the driver straight off the floor every time and she hits it so good. I’m like – wow!”
After a mixed round, which included four birdies and four bogeys, Piovano was pleased to have remained in contention going into the final day.
“I’m glad I’ll be playing in the last group but if Laura’s not there it’ll be a pity because I love to watch her. She is talented. We had a mini football match on the practise range for the TV before hand, just kicking the ball to each other, which was nice.
“It was amazing to learn from her. Just the way she is and the way she plays golf. She just stands there, she gets ready and she goes for it. Other players like to get into the routine and they do everything really slowly but she just uses pure instinct, which is great. I love it.”
Davies got off a bad start with a three putt on the first followed by a double bogey and a bogey at the second and third holes respectively, but she fought back with four birdies and an eagle at the ninth.
“It was difficult today because of the wind. Every shot I dropped was because of something to do with the wind and I just miss judged it,” said Davies, who has won 66 tournaments, with at least one in every year of her career so far.
“That’s what made it more difficult. I mean to shoot one under was good overall because I was three over after six holes. To shoot one under was a good finish. Only I would have liked to have holed the last, but I didn’t have the chance.”
Davies was refused a ruling when her approach to the 18th landed in a bad lie through the back of the green.
“Well it’s called French draining, so there’s your evidence that you’re in a drainage channel.
“Its only one shot but it’s just the principle. I had a similar ruling on the 11th yesterday and it was the same thing, I was showing them stones and they said, no, you can’t have a ruling”, she said.
Piovano also suffered in the wind but overall she was happy with her round.
“Today we were playing last on the course so it was harder to putt because the greens were not as good and there was more wind. But at the start I said I would have been happy with anything from par and below and that’s what I managed to do.
“I just missed the green on the last and I hit a hook into the bunker, but I recovered with an amazing birdie which made my day,” said the Italian Lazio fan.
Another Italian, Veronica Zorzi, shot 70 to finish at eight under par.
