Artis Moves into Top 5 in China
NSW’s Rebecca Artis has moved into the top 5 at the Buick Championship in China.
Artis, who has consistently been in contention or around the top 10 for the majority of the year fired a third round of one-under-par 71 to be at five-under-par for the tournament and in a share of fifth position.
Unfortunately fellow compatriot Stacey Keating carded her second consecutive round of 75 to fall from second place into a share of 14th at three-under-par.
The field however is chasing Rolex World No. 5, China’s Shanshan Feng shot a third round of three under par 69 in cool and cloudy conditions to extend her lead to seven strokes going into the final round of the Buick Championship.
The 25-year-old from Guangzhou fired five birdies between a pair of bogeys on the first and 18th holes at Shanghai Qizhong Garden Golf Club.
At 15 under par, she holds a seven stroke lead over Norwegian Marianne Skarpnord and South Korean Hyeon Seo Kang. A 65 from Nicole Broch Larsen of Denmark took her into solo fourth place on six under par.
After the cut was made the leading 50 players and ties on Friday evening, the professionals were drawn with amateur partners for the additional team better ball competition being played simultaneously over the weekend. It’s a novel format on the Ladies European Tour which has excited both the professionals and amateurs.
After her third round, Feng commented: “I would say at the beginning I was a little bit nervous. It was my first time playing with amateurs in the same group in a professional tournament, so that was fun. After a few holes I thought my amateur did really well, because he saved me maybe two shots on the first three holes. He did very well and then I started to be more relaxed and make birdies. The bogey on the last hole was a little sad but I still did pretty well overall.”
WA’s Whitney Hillier (71) is at even-par and in a tie for 26th. Unfortunately Nikki Garrett and Stephanie Na missed the cut by one shot.