VAN DAM LEADS BY THREE HEADING INTO FINAL ROUND OF KPMG WOMEN’S IRISH OPEN

Anne Van Dam fired another round of 66 (-6) at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open to hold a three-shot lead with one round remaining.

The Dutch star produced rounds of 69 (-3) and 66 (-6) on the first two days of competition to sit one shot behind 36-hole leader Diksha Dagar.

Van Dam got off to a good start with a birdie on the first and then rolled in another on the third before adding another on the ninth, she made another birdie on 11 before dropping her only shot of the day on the 13^th hole.

However, she bounced back and finished in style with three birdies in her final four holes to seal a round of 66 and move to the top of the leaderboard with a total of 15-under-par.

“That’s golf, you always grind until the last hole,” said the 27-year-old. “I really wanted to make that putt on 18, I put myself out of position with my drive there and all I wanted to do was give myself a chance and I did. I really liked the read – it was just outside the left – and I put a great stroke on it, so happy to finish off with a nice one. 

“It wasn’t my best day, but I also hit a lot of great shots. Overall, I have to be happy. Only one dropped shot today and seven birdies, there’s definitely plenty of good there. I’m putting really well and that’s the main thing I changed over the last couple of months is getting my confidence on the greens, especially under pressure like this. A day like today really showed it was good and I’m working on some good things. I’m excited for tomorrow.”

There is a slight sense of deja vu for the Dutch star at Dromoland Castle as she led at the 54-hole mark at the tournament in 2022.

Van Dam has been working hard on her mental game and is planning to stick to the same game plan tomorrow as she aims to secure her first LET title since 2019.

She explained: “I have been working so hard mentally, you have to let everything in the past go. I have been really good with that and I’m proving myself every day and I’m very excited for a new day tomorrow.

“I love the feeling of playing under pressure, it can do great things with you, and it can do bad things to you, and I’ve experienced both. I’m very excited for that challenge and excited to get out there and do my thing tomorrow. 

“If you want to win a tournament you have to play well and you have to play extremely well, I’ve learnt that as well. It’s not going to be given to you. I just have to stick to my game, be aggressive with my driver and put wedges…