Helen Briem fired a round of 66 (-6) on day three of the 2024 La Sella Open to hold a one-stroke lead at the 54-hole mark in Spain.
After all groups were underway, there was a delay of two hours and 47 minutes in play due to the threat of lightning but play resumed at 1.35 pm (local time) with all groups finishing the third round.
The German teenager began the day in a share of fourth place but got off to a good start on her front nine with birdies on holes two and three.
Briem then rolled in three birdies on the trot on holes six, seven and eight before dropping her first shot of the day on 11.
However, the four-time LETAS winner bounced back with back-to-back birdies on 12 and 13 before making a bogey on 16, but she finished in style with a birdie at the last to lead on 12-under-par.
“It was pretty solid, especially the front nine,” said Briem. “Fairways, greens and then some putts fell but there’s still lots of room for improvement but I’m pretty happy with the day.
“I approach each nine pretty equally, yes, the back nine is definitely more challenging from the tee box and definitely the approach to the green, but I just go for it.
“It’s been pretty solid, many greens in regulation which helps a lot. I’m just happy. I still don’t see myself as the favourite. It’s my first LET tournament as a professional. I will just go out and have fun tomorrow.”
Despite having a one-shot lead going into the final day, Briem – who has already secured her LET card for 2025 through the LET Access Series – wants to just enjoy the final round and learn from her experience.
She added: “The highest expectations are from myself. I want to play the Solheim Cup, I want to go to the Olympics but I’m still 19 and turned professional two months ago. I’m just enjoying and collecting experience right now.”
Italy’s Virginia Elena Carta sits in outright second place after a round of 68 (-4) on day three in Spain.
The Italian, who was one of the co-leaders at the end of the first and second days, had six birdies and two bogeys on her scorecard to be on 11-under-par.
“It was another good round,” said Carta. “It was a very long day, I can speak for everyone, I think.
“It was one of those days where it’s quiet out there and it’s hot, humid and rainy. You never know when the round is going to end. I’m pleased with the result, some ups and downs in the middle but I’m very happy.
“There hasn’t been anything particularly outstanding or particularly bad during the day. It was a good day overall, so I’ll just keep working on the same exact things, the same routines that I have been the whole week or year.
“I’m so pleased because I usually find it very hard to chip under pressure, so to be able to have that chip so close by on 18. I’m really proud of my effort and really happy that I was able to get up-and-down for birdie on an important occasion.”
Three players are in a share of third place with France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Finland’s Ursula Wikstrom and Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley all on nine-under-par.
Two-time LET winner Roussin-Bouchard shot the round of the day with a bogey-free 65 (-7) at La Sella Golf Resort.
“It was a pretty fun day out there,” said the Frenchwoman. “With the rain delay, there was just a big break in the day but I was busy. My parents were around my mum helped me out with school.
“I kept busy and then all of a sudden, we had to go back out, it was pretty fast. A really good job with my caddie, we’re having a lot of fun out there. We really complement each other, we’re in the same mood and on the same page on a lot of things. It feels nice to match with someone out there and be able to be a team.
“I’m just enjoying playing good golf again, enjoying being a professional athlete in general. I’m grateful to being back on top and just playing good golf because there’s been some really really low lows this year. I’m taking it all in and enjoying how I feel on the course and that craziness that’s coming back.”
Wikstrom had another steady day carding a round of 69 (-3), meanwhile Rudgeley produced a 70 (-2) on day three to sit three shots behind leader Briem.
Five players are in a tie for sixth place with Sweden’s Ellinor Sudow, Denmark’s Smilla Tarning Soenderby, Spain’s Ana Peláez Trivino, Japan’s Ayako Uehara and Czechia’s Sara Kouskova all on eight-under-par.
The final round will begin at 8.20 am (local time) with the leading group teeing off at 11.59 am at La Sella Golf Resort.
Follow all the action throughout the tournament on our socials – @LETgolf on Instagram, TikTok and X, and Ladies European Tour on YouTube and Facebook – #RaiseOurGame #LaSellaOpen.
