(Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland – 4th August 2012) –
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Solheim Cup star Catriona Matthew continues to lead the Ladies Irish Open supported by Fáilte Ireland but fellow Scot Carly Booth and Swede Pernilla Lindberg are hot on her heels going into the final round at Killeen Castle.
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Matthew posted a second round of 71 on a morning of testing conditions with heavy rain showers forcing the suspension of play for 30 minutes.She ended the day at six-under-par and will take a two shot advantage into the final round. Defending champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway is poised to strike, sitting just three strokes off the lead with England’s Elizabeth Bennett two shots further back at one-under-par.
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Matthew was three under on the front nine but came back in two over. After compensating for two dropped shots with a pair of birdies, she found the water off the tee on 17 resulting in a double bogey.
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“I’m a little bit disappointed. I played well on the front nine and then just a bad drive on 17 cost me a double: one under, so not too bad,” explained the North Berwick 42-year-old.
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Booth, who won twice on the Ladies European Tour earlier this season in Scotland and Switzerland, had a three under 69 despite taking a double bogey on the par-three 16th.
rnLindberg played under sunny skies in the afternoon and posted an even par round of 72.
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World No.6 Pettersen put herself back in the hunt with a 69 which featured an eagle on the 460-yard seventh hole, where she played a driver, five-iron to 20 feet and holed the putt.
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Although there will be no Irish players competing on Sunday, Alison Walshe of the United States is a player with Irish family connections and she sits in a share of sixth place on level par with England’s Felicity Johnson and Scotland’s Kylie Walker.
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Nikki Garrett is the leading Australian, sharing ninth position at one-over-par after an even par round of 72. Rachel Bailey (76) and Alison Whitaker (72) are a further shot back and tied for 15th. Lindsey Wright (74) is tied for 38th at four-over-par, Stacey Keating is a further shot adrift and shares 43rd position. Frances Bondad came back well to post a 70 to finish and seven-over-par and make the cut on the number.
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66 players made the final round, unfortunately Rebecca Artis, Stephanie Na, Bree Arthur, Karen Lunn and Sarah Kemp all missed out.
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Click here for the leaderboard.
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