France’s Celine Boutier and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko are in a share of the lead on 15-under-par after 54 holes at the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open.
Two-time Solheim Cup winner Boutier fired a round of 67 (-5) and got off to a hot start with four birdies on her front nine.
The Frenchwoman’s only dropped shot of the day came at 12, but she soon bounced back with a birdie on 14 to reach 15-under.
“It was a very solid day,” said Boutier. “I started the front pretty solid and that helped me relax a little bit. The conditions were more windy and a little bit tougher, so it was really good to get a good start and I stayed very patient. I had a lot of opportunities and took advantage of some of them.
“I really like links golf and playing in windy conditions. I feel like my ball flight is pretty low, and so I feel like I never really have trouble keeping it down, which is an advantage here because the ball doesn’t get affected as much. I have some good memories from Scotland too, of playing well in the past, so that’s always helpful
“I think what I’ve learned of being in this position in the past is that really anything can happen, whether you have the lead or not. Try to not get too far ahead of yourself and focus on what you can control which is really each shot at a time.”
World number four Ko, who was the leader at the halfway stage, carded a round of one-under-par 71 on day three at Dundonald Links.
The six-time LET winner sandwiched a bogey between two birdies on holes two through four to make the turn in 35 (-1).
There were two more bogeys on the back nine for Ko, but she made up for it with two birdies including a lovely chip-in on 15 to draw level with Boutier.
“I think I drove it a little better than I did the last couple days,” said Ko. “My irons were not as sharp, so I don’t think I set myself up for as many easier 15-feet and birdie opportunities.
“On some holes today, I felt like the hole was not apparent on the green, and it is difficult to read these greens. Even Thursday and Friday, I obviously played really well but there were some putts you thought you would have holed or would have at least touched the hole
“Today, sometimes I look stupid; I’ve got a 12-footer and I’ve missed the hole by like a ball, which you hope doesn’t happen often. It just shows it’s not easy out there. But I think more the most part, the weather was nice, so we got pretty fortunate with that.”
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