Carly Booth
Scotland’s Carly Booth shot a three-under-par 69 to earn a share of the lead alongside Finland’s Sanna Nuutinen, who had a second round 70, heading into the final round of the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open.
Booth carded five birdies to move to seven-under at Golf Resort Karlštejn.
Slovenian teen Pia Babnik, England’s Hayley Davis, France’s Anais Meyssonnier and Scotland’s Kylie Henry are all one shot behind the leaders.
“I’m playing very solid and giving myself lots of chances, so I’m very happy with my game at the moment and hopefully I’ll have more birdies tomorrow and no more dropped shots,” said Booth.
The two-time Ladies European Tour winner is chasing her third win – and first in seven years – having won the Scottish and Swiss Opens in 2012.
“I’m physically and emotionally happy with how I’m striking the ball, so I take confidence from that and especially the little bit of wind we had today, it emphasised the knock-down shots that I was playing well at the Scottish, so it kind of worked in my favour. I never stopped having the itch (to win) and it’s nice to see that I’m in contention going into tomorrow.”
Nuutinen is chasing her first LET title in the dual-ranking event, although she won the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge on the LET Access Series three weeks ago.
She said: “I prefer to go into tomorrow a shot or two from behind. I like it that way. When I won, I was in the third to last group out and came from behind. It’s fun because I’ve put myself in that position before and playing on the LET Access, I’m learning how to win and how to be on top, so now this is an LET event, it doesn’t feel any different. I’m definitely going to be a little bit nervous but I guess that’s a good thing.”
Henry also has tasted victory, albeit five years ago when she won the Dutch and German Opens on the LET.
“I’ve really enjoyed the last two days. Four-under yesterday and two-under today, so I’m really happy with how I’m playing and I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” said Henry, who holds the all-time record for the lowest 54 holes on the LET, with a 24-under total at the 2014 German Open.
“I’ll definitely be nervous and excited, but it’s why we do this, it’s why we play golf and it’s a thrill to be in contention going into the final round.
“Hopefully, my experience of winning before can help me tomorrow and I’ll play as well as I can and do my best. I’ll just stick to a good process with my long game. My long game’s been trending well and I’ve been putting well over the last few weeks so I’ll try and enjoy it.”
At 15 years, seven months and 23 days, Babnik has the chance to become the second youngest winner in the 41-year history of the LET and the youngest ever champion in the 10-year history of the LET Access Series.
Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul is the youngest, as she won the 2017 Ladies European Thailand Championship as an amateur aged 14 years, 4 months and 19 days and Lydia Ko, who is the second youngest, won the 2013 ISPS Handa New Zealand’s Women’s Open hosted by Christchurch as an amateur aged 15 years, 9 months and 17 days.
