Jessica Karlsson holds on to lead despite struggle on greens

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Jessica Karlsson - TheGolfingHub
Leader by one after 54 holes at the Amundi German Masters, Jessica Karlsson's best finish on the LET is a tie for the fifth place. Photo: Tristan Jones/LET

Sweden’s Jessica Karlsson holds a one-shot lead over compatriot Maja Stark at the end of the third day of the Amundi German Masters.

After completing her second round this morning, Karlsson had a four-shot lead with a total of 13-under-par and this afternoon, she added a third round of 71 (-1).

Related: Weather no dampener on Jessica Karlsson’s free-flowing golf

The 29-year-old dropped a shot on the third hole but bounced back with a birdie on the 10th before making another bogey on 13.

However, back-to-back birdies on 16 and 17 ensured the Swede kept her lead intact as she sits on 14-under-par with one round left at Golf & Country Club Seddiner See.

“It was okay,” said Karlsson, whose best result on the LET is finishing in a tie for fifth place. “I struggled a bit on the greens today but from tee to green it was good.

 

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“I am just going to try to hit every shot as good as I can tomorrow and make sure that I can stay focussed.”

Three-time LET winner Maja Stark sits in second place on 13-under-par having fired a third round of 67 (-5) on Saturday afternoon.

The 22-year-old, who is second in the 2022 Race to Costa del Sol, rolled in five birdies on her front nine before making three birdies, a bogey and a double bogey on the back and be in contention once again.

“The day felt like it flew by. I was enjoying it a lot and I think it was nice to finally have some action in my round and not just have pars and a couple of birdies. I got to play a lot today,” said Stark.

“I think us Swedes hit pretty far, there are a few reachable par-fives where you sometimes have to hit over a hazard, and we can reach over them.

“I always want to try to win and I think seeing my game today, I made a few stupid mistakes so I think there is a lower round in me tomorrow.”

 

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Four shots behind the leader are Spain’s Carmen Alonso and Germany’s Leonie Harm, who are tied for third place on 10-under-par having carded rounds of 67 and 69, respectively.

Alonso, who was bogey-free in Round Three, said: “Today was a really long day, I played 26 holes. I’m three shots behind, but I’m happy and really happy with my game and how I hit the ball. I had a lot of chances for birdie, so we will see tomorrow.”

Harm dropped a shot on the third but rolled in birdies on six and eight to make the turn in 35 (-1) before she added three more birdies and one bogey on the back nine.

“I enjoyed it out there,” said the 24-year-old. “It was fun to play, I like the course and it’s fun to play in Germany because the crowds are a little bit biased. They’re still fair but favouring me a bit!

“I took a little 15-minute powernap just before lunch, after I got in from my second round, and I was just trying to get some more energy for this afternoon.

“Tomorrow will be tricky going into a final day from behind but still in a good position. You feel like you have to out-do yourself to post a low one, but I’m going to take it one shot at a time and play the best golf I can play in the moment.”

 

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Five players are in a share of fifth place on nine-under-par including three-time LET winner Linn Grant, home favourite Olivia Cowan, Czechia’s Klara Spilkova and Scotland’s Laura Beveridge.