Sweden’s Linnea Ström continued her consistent form at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open carding a third round of 72 to lead by two shots.
The 25-year-old had a tough start to her day with two bogeys in her opening three holes, but found her form again with birdies on six, nine and 11.
Two further bogeys and one more birdie ensured the Swede recorded a level-par round and stayed at the top of the leaderboard on three-under-par.
“It was a steady day. I started off a little bit tricky with two bogeys in the first three holes and that wasn’t ideal or what I was hoping for, but other than that I think I managed to stay focused and stay in my own bubble and enjoy it out there,” said Ström.
“I did want to try and score a little bit lower than I did, but overall, I feel happy with how I played and hopefully I can get a good score in tomorrow.”
Having won on the Epson Tour in 2018, Ström knows what it takes to get a victory but leading a competition from day one is a new experience.
She continued: “I don’t think I have ever been the leader from day one and going into the final round so I’m just happy that I have managed it so far. Hopefully, I will have the same routine tomorrow and try to stay calm and just hit good shots.
“I’m probably 50/50 excited and nervous which is probably good for me. As long as I can continue to control my nerves and take deep breaths out on the golf course then I think I will be fine.”
Spain’s Luna Sobron produced the round of the day with a 68 (-4) moving her up to second place on the leaderboard with a total of one-under-par.
One eagle, five birdies and three bogeys saw the Spaniard move into contention with just one round left to go at Vipingo Ridge.
“I played really good, I was very consistent, and the key was to be patient because this course is crazy with the wind. It is very narrow, and the bounce of the ball is very hard, so the key was to be patient,” said Sobron.
“I was hitting the ball very well in the last few weeks, I have been playing in America and the results have been really good.
“I’m going to think about shot by shot and try to do my best. I would like to win, of course, but I need to be in the present and just play.”
German duo Esther Henseleit and Sophie Hausmann share third place on level par after shooting rounds of 69 and 71, respectively.
“It was pretty good,” said defending champion Henseleit. “Compared to the last two days it was pretty boring and solid. I wasn’t really in trouble. For the last two days I always missed one or two drives and made some stupid bogeys.
“It was pretty solid hitting fairways and greens and I putted alright. I still had quite a few opportunities from 10 to 15 feet, and I couldn’t hole one, but it was good.”
Hausmann explained: “Overall, it was pretty good and solid. Not as many birdies as yesterday, but I feel like it is not easy out there in the wind. I feel like here par is your friend and whatever birdie you can make, you take it.
“I will try to stick with my gameplan and see what opportunities I get and make them. Three off the lead, it is possible and that is the mindset I want to have but the three last holes are not easy, and it will come down to the stretch. It is a good position to be in.”
France’s Emma Grechi sits in fifth place on one-over-par having carded a round of 71, with Spain’s Marta Sanz Barrio one shot further back in sixth place.
Wales’ Becky Morgan is seventh on three-over while four players are tied for eighth place with Sweden’s Jenny Haglund, South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, Scotland’s Michele Thomson and Spain’s Nuria Iturrioz all on four-over.
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