Lewis takes lead into Omega finals

December 6, 2013: Stacy Lewis of USA fired a third-round two-under-par 70 on the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club on Friday to extend a two stroke lead into the final round of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.

The world no. 3 made three birdies and one bogey in her round to take a two-shot lead over Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum who carded a 69 with Italy’s Diana Luna, Vikki Laing of Scotland and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda moving into a tie for third on six-under 210.

Snapping on the heels of the leaders were the Swedish duo of Louise Larsson and Pernilla Lindberg were one shot further adrift after carding 68 and 75 respectively, raising the prospects of a close finish on Saturday.

[highlight]It was the kind of day that could have been worse and it could have been better. But, you know, overall, I’m right where I need to be going into tomorrow [/highlight]

Defending champion Shanshan Feng, who opened with a 76, followed his second-round 67 with a 71, quietly moving up the leaderboard and is now at two-under, two behind England’s great Laura Davies, who made a 71.

“It’s always hard to follow up a day like I had yesterday, especially on the greens. It was the kind of day that could have been worse and it could have been better. But, you know, overall, I’m right where I need to be going into tomorrow,” said Lewis, the two-time major winner, who is playing her first event in Dubai.

Phatlum was in a better state after she fired a 69 and said that she was aiming to play with Lewis in the last group. Although Laing and Luna both had matching 69s, Ciganda admitted to struggling on the greens.

South Africa’s Connie Chen produced the shot of the day when she aced the 160-yard par-3, 15th, using a six iron, a perfect tee shot which won her gleaming Mercedes Benz E-400 Convertible worth US$70,000, almost on a par with the tournament’s second place prize money of 50,750 euro.

Final round play starts at 7:35 on Saturday and the leading trio of Luna, Phatlum and Lewis tee off at 11:20.