Switzerland’s Natalie Armbruester leads by one stroke heading into the final round of the Super Bock Ladies Open at Vidago Palace after carding rounds of 66 and 67.
Armbruester, who started on hole 10, got off to a strong start carding three birdies and one bogey to finish her front nine.
At the turn, the Swiss player found herself in three bunkers on the first but executed good damage control to walk away from that hole with a bogey and she soon bounced back with four more birdies to finish on 11-under-par.
“My iron game was good today. I gave myself a lot of opportunities for birdies so that was great.
“The first time I was in the leading group this year I was very nervous, and it showed off the tee. So going into tomorrow I want to make sure I’m committed and focussed on my target.
“When I step up to the ball, I know what I want to do and commit to that game plan.”
Armbruester rescinded her amateur status two weeks ago at the Madaef Golfs Ladies Open Presented by Saidia Resorts and has had a strong start to the LETAS season.
This week’s clubhouse leader currently sits fifth on the LETAS Order of Merit after placing third and 11th at the previous two tournaments.
Speaking about what she accredits her recent good form too, Armbruester said: “I think that I have been incredibly consistent with my practice at home, I have a good support team, and I’ve started mediating which helps.”
One shot back lies Germany’s Leonie Harm on 10-under-par after she carded two rounds of 66 and 68.
“I cannot remember the last time I shot two rounds in the 60s in a row in tournament golf.
“I did get lucky again and the trees assisted me today. I feel like the course is pushing me this week which is a nice feeling. It’s good to see that my game is trending.”
Speaking about her plan for the final round, Harm said: “I can only focus on what I do and I’m just trying to not let the bad shots get to me because they will happen.
“There is probably going to be another low round out there tomorrow for someone. I just want to give myself the best chance possible to be that someone.
Harm, who has played the last few seasons on the LET and finished in the top 10 nine times, has struggled to produce the game she expects of herself in the last two years so securing a win tomorrow would mean a lot.
“It wouldn’t be so much about winning, it would literally be about producing a whole tournament of decent golf.
“At some point you start wondering if you can do it and if it’s worth all these hours and missing out on other parts of life.
“I missed a bachelorette party to go to Morocco and it’s a priveledged problem to have but in the moment it feels isolating.
“It feels horrendous to put in so much work and then just get worse. I had that feeling until a chain of fortunate events, which started with a cancelled flight.”
Harm found herself ready to quit the LET season, where she finished a disappointing 100th on the 2024 Order of Merit after India and had a direct flight to head straight home
Fate had other plans as her flight was cancelled.
Harm made the decision to caddy for Momoka Kobori where after doing some work on the range, her friend Scott Edwards gave her some tips.
“Suddenly he just says a few things which fix what I’ve been struggling with for two years. My swing is funky so not every coach knows where the right tweaking points are. Now his advice is paying off.”
Terre Blanche Ladies Open winner, Amalie Leth-Nissen sits in tied third alongside Isle of Man’s Ana Dawson on nine-under-par.
Scotland’s Laura Beveridge and French amateur Sara Brentcheneff finished tied fifth on seven-under-par.
52 players made the cut which stood at +2.
The final round begins at 8:00am local time with the leaders teeing off at 9:28am.
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