Leona Maguire has a six-shot deficit to make up on leader Lauren Coughlin going into the final round of the Aramaco Championship.
In what was another tough day for the field at the testing Shadow Creek Course, Maguire’s round of 74 leaves her at one under. The Cavan golfer’s third round began with a bogey at the first but she picked up shots on four and eight. A run of pars followed until a double-bogey five at the par-3 13th, with that setback softened by a birdie on 17 to leave Maguire fifth overall.
Coughlin made bogeys on the third and sixth holes before picking up her first birdie of the day on seven.
She made another birdie on 11 before back-to-back bogeys on 13 and 14; however, she finished strong with a birdie at the last to close out a round of 73 and sit atop the leaderboard on seven under.
World number two Nelly Korda is in outright second place two shots behind her compatriot after a round of 69.
The two-time major champion ended the day the same way she started it with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18.
Japan’s Miyu Yamashita and Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen are in a share of third place on three-under-par heading into the final day.
Madsen has had a consistent week around Shadow Creek recording rounds of 72-70-71 despite the variable conditions.
Of the Irish in the field, Anna Foster carded a 79 to lie on +11, while Laura Walsh’s 80 has her at +14.