Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord will take a three shot lead into the final round of the Oates Victorian Open being played at 13^th Beach Golf Links on the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula.  

The multiple winner on the Ladies European Tour, who sits atop of the leaderboard at 13-under-par  wont have it her own way with England’s Holly Clyburn and young gun Su Oh leading the chase at 10-under and 9-under respectively.   

Skarpnord’s five-under-par, 68 included six birdies and one birdie during the weather interrupted afternoon.  Play had to be suspended at 3.48pm local time due to lightning in the area, players returned to the clubhouse, waited for the storm to pass before officials allowed play to resume at 5.00pm local time.

Having only arrived in Australia from Dubai late Monday night, the 28-year-old was hit by jet-lag with four holes to play today. 

“I played really well from 10^th to 14^th holes but on the 15^th hole I could feel I got really tired, and it was all about surviving for me then.   I finished up with a birdie which I was really happy with.”

“I started a bit slow, it was quite windy when we teed off about  1pm today,  it was so stinking hot, but it has been a great day and I played well so I can’t complain.”

Clyburn, who was celebrating her 24^th birthday, finished her four-under-par 69 in style with an eagle on the par 5 18^th.  Having won on the LET in 2013 and finished runner-up twice in 2014, she will be eager to get her 2015 campaign started with a win.

Oh, will be the one looking to spoil the party for her international above her on the leaderboard.  The Victorian will be looking to go low like she did in round two,  “I can’t hold back, so I hope I can have another day like yesterday.”

The 18-year-old just couldn’t get anything going today, “It was just a boring day, I didn’t have any birdie chances as I didn’t hit it very good today, so that was just so long.  I made some good up and downs, so that was good.  But it is really so much for fun when you a putt for birdie and then make easy pars, it was kind of grind today.”

Sharing fourth place and in with an outside chance at eight-under is the leading amateur Shelly Shin (72) and first round leader Sally Watson (73).  Watson had an unbelievable round it included three eagles, including holing out from 160 yards with a 6-iron, two birdies, four bogeys and two double bogeys.    

Crowd favourite Dame Laura Davies got herself into a share of 10^th at four-under-par after posting a three-under-par 70, while Rachel Hetherington is a further shot adrift in a tie for 14^th.

Victorian Bre Elliott carded the round of the day, a seven-under-par 66 to move into a tie for 19^th position.