Ireland’s Sara Byrne had another fantastic day at Gambito Golf Calatayud carding a 68 (-4).
The 23-year-old came out strong, rolling in five birdies and one bogey on the second hole, the only mistake on the front nine.
At the turn, the Curtis Cup winner fired up her putter to card three consecutive birdies before tiredness set in with three bogeys and three pars in her last six holes.
“I played solid again. The putts were dropping on the front nine. The back nine I struggled but that’s golf.
“Now I’ve just had a big lunch, I will take a nap, watch some Netflix and maybe have a wander in the city.
“I’m in energy preservation mode as I’m tired after a long couple of weeks.”
Byrne is excited to lead heading into final day, a position the Irishwoman feels confident in.
“I don’t mind being in the front, I just want to keep that mentality and go as low as possible.
“I’ve won from the front before, and I’ve won from behind, so it is what it is, and I want to just keep the same mentality I had from today.
“I came here with the intention to win. It would be a great start to my professional career.”
Byrne comes into this event having made two consecutive cuts on the LET at the La Sella Golf Open and the Lacoste Ladies Open de France where she placed 41stand 28th respectively.
“I’m taking it all in my stride and I just want to lean into it as much as possible. I came here to win and if I can do that, it would be amazing.
“We’ve come off such a good couple of weeks together with the Curtis Cup and LPGA Q school so it would be nice if we could make it two out of two.”
Norway’s Tina Mazarino and France’s Marine Griffaut are tied second on eight-under-par.
Mazarino, who has already secured her LET 2025 card had a great morning carding six birdies and one bogey to finish on 67 (-5).
“I’m just trying to play my own game and play steady golf. You always want to play well but I came into this event with no expectations.
“I’m here to maybe have some fun as it is the last event of the season.”
Mazarino is playing with two others who have secured their card: Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjall and England’s Billie-Jo Smith.
“I think our whole group is not feeling the pressure, we’ve accomplished what we wanted, and I think it is a chilled atmosphere.”
“It’s very exciting, I love going into the final group. I look forward to another good day in the sun and taking in all the moments.”
France’s Marine Griffaut scored two rounds of 68 to head into final day in the leading group.
Today, Griffaut who played in last week’s LET event, the Lacoste Ladies Open, rolled in seven birdies and three bogeys to finish one shot behind leader, Sara Byrne.
“I’ve learnt so much the past few weeks. France last week frustrated me a lot because I was playing well, and I learnt a lot.
“I think that gave me a lot of confidence and room for improvement. I’m happy with this week.
“I just want to take it shot by shot and see what happens.”
Griffaut, who had to withdraw from two LETAS events due to sickness and injury sits outside the final stage Q School exemption list but is hoping to rack up some points in this final event.
“I’m here this week to get everything that I can get. I don’t want to go to the first stage. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I love being in contention.
“It gives me goosebumps thinking about being in the leading group again.
“Its 18 more holes tomorrow and anything can happen.”
Griffaut won the Montauban Ladies Open back in 2021 as an amateur and turned professional just before this year’s edition, where she finished tied fourth.
“I feel like I like to be behind because I feel like I have nothing to lose. We’ve been in this situation before, and we will see what happens.”
Italy’s Alessia Nobilio and England’s Billie-Jo Smith sit in tied fourth on seven-under-par with the latter carding a tournament record round of 64 (-8) today.
Denmark’s Puk Lyng Thomsen and England’s Ellie Gower sit one shot behind in sixth whilst Netherland’s Marit Harryvan is in eighth on five-under-par.
England’s Ellen Hume, Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjall round out the top 10 in tied ninth on four-under-par.
61 players made the cut which stood at +3.
The final round of the year begins at 8:50am tomorrow, with the leaders going out at 10:30am and after play the seven players earning LET cards will be revealed.
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