Denmark’s Julie Tvede took the edge after a cooler third day in Marrakech for Lalla Aicha Tour School Final Qualifying for the 2014 Ladies European Tour season on Monday.
The 33-year-old from Frederiksberg, who opened with rounds of 68 and 73 on the Al Maaden and Samanah courses respectively, fired another 68 at Golf Al Maaden in temperatures around 15C.
Tvede, a member of the LET since 2007, moved to seven-under-par, a stroke ahead of Norwegian Caroline Martens, Austrian amateur Nina Muehl and Tessa Teachman of the United States.
After making the turn in three under par with birdies on the second, fourth and ninth, she then picked up further shots at 10 and 13 before making her only bogey on the 14th.
“I am very pleased. I found a really good rhythm on the tee box, so that was nice. I was missing that yesterday, so I am very happy I managed to get in good positions from the tee,” Tvede said.
“My irons have been really good so far this week and I have had a lot of good birdie opportunities. The conditions today were pretty close to perfect. The wind picked up a little towards the end but the conditions were good. I think like most players I am just trying to take one round at a time and stay focused on that.”
Overnight leader Martens, also playing at Al Maaden, recovered from a double bogey on fifth to card a level par 72, while Muehl had a 70 on the same course.
Teachman was once again the best placed from ‘field A’ playing on the Samanah Golf Course and was pleased with a steady 72.
The 24-year-old from Louisiana said: “Today was definitely a lot harder and the conditions were colder. It definitely played a little longer but I kept plugging on. There is lots of golf left and I just kept making pars. It was a bit more of a fight today but I’m definitely looking forward to two more rounds. It’s a little bit of an adjustment but again, the course was in great shape and I’m looking forward to some more golf.”
Germany’s Karolin Lampert, Finland’s Elina Numenpaa and England’s Anna Scott all ended the day three behind the leader on four-under-par. Lampert and Numenpaa both had 71s containing three birdies and two bogeys at Samanah Golf Club. Lampert said: “The last two days were really good for me and today I was three under after 14 and made bogey, bogey. I’m really happy with my score and my position.”
Numenpaa added: “It was a little tough at the beginning I and I wasn’t striking the ball well but after I thought about how it’s going to be a long tournament and take one shot at a time, it’s going to work out okay and it did.”
With a round to go before the cut to the leading 60 players and those tied, the cut mark was hovering around six-over-par, with those on one-over-par currently tied for 30th place.
