Course record gives Davies lead
England’s Laura Davies fired a course-record seven-under-par 65 in sunny conditions to take a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the UNIQA Ladies Golf Open in Austria.
Davies, who carded a 69 in her first round at Golfclub Forenwald in Wiener Neustadt on Friday, is on 10 under par to lead by one over the defending champion, Sophie Gustafson of Sweden.
Gustafson, who won last week’s De Vere Ladies Scottish Open, carded a six-under 66, equalling the men’s course record set by Austrian Markus Brier two months ago.
Italian Diana Luna is two strokes further back on seven under par after a 69, with five players on four under – England duo Kirsty A Taylor (68) and Danielle Masters (68), France’s Virginie Lagoutte (69), New Zealand’s Elizabeth McKinnon (70) and Denmark’s Karen-Margrethe Juul (70).
Davies began the day two strokes behind the overnight leader, Sarah Nicholson from New Zealand.
Eight consecutive pars wee followed by six birdies, an eagle and a bogey.
“I am very pleased. KM (Juul) played well today too. We sort of egged each other along so it was good,” said Davies.
“I’m playing well. Sophie’s playing well too and some of the other players are up there so it won’t be easy. I’ll have to see how I go tomorrow. If I play like I did the last two days I’ll have a very good chance.
“She (Gustafson) won last week in horrible conditions and here she is again this week. At the beginning of the week in my mind I felt like if I could finish ahead of Sophie I would probably win.”
