Three Aussies are in the top 10 heading into the final day of the Honma Pilsen Golf Masters being played at Golf Park Plzn, Prague.
Stacey Keating is sitting alone in sixth position at eight under after signing for a second round of five-under-par 66. Keating is just three back of current leader, Switzerland’s Anais Maggetti, who fired a six-under-par 65 to lead at 11-under-par.
New South Wales’ Rebecca Artis (68) and Victorian Alison Whitaker (71) are currently at seven-under-par for the tournament and share seventh position. All three will be in the mix on Sunday.
Second round play was suspended at 20:30 local time on Saturday due to darkness and will resume at 7am on Sunday. There are five matches on each side of the draw still to complete their second rounds on Sunday.
Round three will commence approximately one hour after the conclusion of round two, after the cut and re-draw. (A U-draw will be made, playing in three-balls).
The Swiss 22-year-old fired six birdies in a flawless round to overhaul a four shot deficit and lead a Ladies European Tour tournament for the first time in her two seasons as a professional.
Maggetti hasn’t made a cut in nine events played this year and her career best finish was a tie for 11th at the ISPS HANDA Ladies British Masters in 2012 as a rookie.
She goes into the final day at 11-under-par, two ahead of Russian Maria Baliokeva, Line Vedel from Denmark, Germany’s Ann-Kathrin Lindner and the 2011 event champion Jade Schaeffer from France.
“I didn’t expect to be leading but I played really good, hit the ball solid from tee to green and putted really well today,†said Maggetti, from Losone in Ticino, who has her 18-year-old brother, Alexander, on the bag. “I hit a lot of irons off the tee and had a lot of wedges and birdie chances. I feel lucky to be able to finish today and play only 18 holes on this course today. I’m excited for tomorrow.â€
First-round leader Laura Cabanillas of Spain struggled to match her heroics from the previous day when she shot 62 and was three-over after 12 holes.
Of the other Australians in the field, Sarah Kemp (67) is at six-under-par and will be looking for a top 10 finish tomorrow, while Nikki Garrett (70) is in the clubhouse at three-under-par and will be playing the final round. Garrett is currently tied for 34th position.
Bree Arthur has three holes to play in her second round and is currently sitting right on the cut line of even-par. The cut will be made to the leading 60 players and ties.
Unfortunately Nikki Campbell (72) and Lindsey Wright (76) are both in the clubhouse at one-over-par and tied for 70th position. It looks unlikely they will make the cut. Whitney Hillier (+2), Karen Lunn (+3), Sarah King (+3), Kristie Smith (+4) and Stephanie Na (+17) wont be playing Sunday. Kiwi Cathryn Bristow mathematically still has a chance but will have to birdie four of her remaining six holes – with no bogeys to make it thru, she is currently at four-over.
Defending champion, England’s Melissa Reid is at six-under-par and shares 12th position with five other players including Kemp.