18-year-old Helen Briem fired the best round of her life to hold a one shot lead heading into the final day of the Santander Golf Tour-Avila at Naturavila Golf.
The German amateur, who shot two-under-par yesterday, played phenomenally to card one bogey, four pars and 11 birdies to equal LETAS’ lowest 18-hole score. A record shared with German player Anne Van Dam and Ariane Provot.
“I feel great, minus 10 is incredible, I’ve had a 64 before but this is another sphere, so it obviously feels great.”
18-year-old Briem is hoping to make more history this week by becoming the first player to record three consecutive wins on LETAS but insists she feels no nerves or pressure.
“I didn’t feel the pressure last week and I don’t feel it this week and I won’t feel it tomorrow. I’m playing for the win. It’s going to be a tough battle out there with the scores being close but I’m ready.
“The course this week is so different to the last one, it gives a lot of birdie opportunities which is fun.
“Tomorrow, I play to win.”
One stroke behind Briem lies Swedish professional Kajsa Arwefjall, who backed up her round yesterday of 67(-5) by going one stroke lower.
Arwefjall, who started on 10 had a shaky start with a bogey but brought it back quickly with four consecutive pars and another birdie chance was successful on hole 17.
On the Swedish star’s back nine she had a birdie on the first and last with seven consecutive pars in the middle to head into the final day as a leader.
“I felt pretty good out there, I hit the ball well. I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens, so it gave me lots of good opportunities.
“Yesterday, I went out on my birthday and had a good round. Its midsummer in Sweden. So, it was always going to be a good day”
Arwefjall, who turned professional three weeks ago had a great first start to the season on LETAS with a fifth-place finish at the AMUNDI Czech Ladies Challenge.
“Last week was a boost for me, but I didn’t quite make any putts, but I knew I had the game, so it gave me confidence.
“Today I played with two very nice girls, I love talking and chatting so whoever I’m playing with tomorrow I hope to do the same thing and have fun.”
Arwefjall is no stranger to winning professional tournaments, in 2021 she beat Swedish professional Sofie Bringner in a playoff to win the GolfUppsala Open as an amateur.
“Honestly a lot of people ask me how it feels to be professional, but it doesn’t feel any different. I just love playing golf. I’m just very grateful to call this my job.”
England’s Megan Dennis had two great rounds of 68 and 66 to head into the final day in Avila on 10-under-par.
On a sunny second day, Dennis carded a flawless round of 13 pars, four birdies and one eagle to finish two shots behind her playing partner Helen Briem.
“We had a great group today and we were building momentum together. It was a really nice day out there.
“Tomorrow I will try to do the same again, stick to my game plan and try and hole some putts.”
Dennis is vying for a top seven position on the LETAS Order of Merit, where she currently sits eighth, to earn her LET card for 2025 and knows a win could be crucial.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself but getting my first professional win is something I’ve dreamt of doing.
“I will try to take it one shot at a time tomorrow and see what I can do. It should be a fun final day.”
Denmark’s Cecilie Leth-Nissen sits in solo fourth on eight-under-par after rounds of 66 and 70.
Four players are tied for fifth on seven-under-par: Italy’s Marta Spiazzi, Spain’s Elena Hualde, Netherland’s Nikki Hofstede and Australia’s Stephanie Bunque
At the end of a low-scoring second day, 51 players made the cut which stood at +1.
The final day commences at 8:30am local time with the leaders going out at 9:30am.
Follow all the action throughout the tournament on the LETAS social media channels – @letaccess on Instagram, X, and Ladies European Tour Access Series on Facebook – #RaiseOurGame #Access2Let #SantanderGolfTour.
