By Rahul Banerji
Avani Prashanth was one shot off the lead after day three of the 30th Espirito Santo Trophy at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Friday behind joint toppers Huai-Chien Hsu of Taiwan and Thailand’s Navaporn Soontreeyapas.
In the team event, India were tied for ninth place and in line for their best World Amateur Team Championship finish against the current best of tied 17th earned back in 2014.
Queen Sirikit Cup winner Avani dropped her first shot of the individual event on Friday after having gone 42 consecutive holes bogey free and carded a third consecutive sub-par round, of 71 after 68s over the first two days.
Sitting alongside the two-time Indian national champion on 9 under par 207 were Singapore’s Inez Ng, world number two Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio of Spain and South Korea’s Kyorim Seo.
Huai and Navaporn led the 108 strong field on 10 under 206s.
“I’ve just played some pretty consistent golf,” Avani (68-68-71) said after her round on Friday.
Looking ahead
“Today, not as many putts dropped. I missed a lot of putts inside 10-12 feet, but that’s okay, I can always go low tomorrow and get something done.
“It would be really inspiring for the younger girls back home to see that some other Indian girls can finish well here.
“If they see it done, then they can come the year after to better it. And it gives them the belief that India can compete.”
In the team competition, Hyosong Lee, 14, posted a 5-under 67 on Friday to propel South Korea into a share of the lead with Spain after 54 holes, the event website said.
The Koreans, who started the day two shots off the lead, and the Spaniards stand at 17-under-par 415, with Thailand one stroke back in solo third.
Hot putter
Lee, the winner of the last two Korean Women’s Amateurs, rode a hot putter with six birdies against one bogey while besting the field with 10 one-putts.
Korea, seeking a fourth Espirito Santo Trophy in the last seven competitions, added a 71 from Minsol Kim, no. 4 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, to bring the team’s third round tally to a 6-under 138.
Kyorim Seo carded a non-counting 71 as only two of each team’s best three scores count toward the day’s total.
The three co-leaders heading into Friday’s third round struggled to get going during their opening nine holes.
Australia, Spain and Thailand all made the turn with team scores at even par or 1 under, while Korea emerged as the solo leader with a nine-hole total of 4 under par.
“The start was a little rough,” said Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez, the reigning European Ladies’ Amateur champion.
“I went to my captain and my coaches on the back [nine] and I was like, ‘We need to come back somehow. I need to fight for this.’”
Late charge
Lopez Ramirez and world no. 2 Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio led a back nine charge for the Spaniards, combining for three birdies on the final three holes to jump back into a share of the lead.
Spain are seeking their first Espirito Santo Trophy since 1992 and a first medal since 2012.
“We have a lot of golf left to play tomorrow,” said Lopez Ramirez. “We’re excited to be in the lead and to have the opportunity to win this tournament.”
Also making a run on the back nine was Thailand.
Reigning Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion Eila Galitsky birdied the par-4 17th and par-5 18th to post a 3-under 69 in addition to a 72 from Navaporn, co-leader in the individual scoring race.
“It’s the best feeling ever being in the final group and knowing that you have a chance to win the Espirito Santo Trophy,” said Galitsky. “Hopefully we can perform tomorrow.”
Also read: Bogey-free run has Avani in second place at Abu Dhabi WATC
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