A tournament record nine-under 63 was not enough to see Dutch woman Dewi Claire Schreefel reel in runaway leader Feng Shanshan after Friday’s third round of the Dubai Ladies Masters.
World No.6 Feng hit three birdies in her last three holes to card a third-round 67, as she increased her lead at the top by five shots.
Schreefel, a regular on the LPGA Tour the last two years, made four birdies in her last four holes, apart from five others in a bogey-free round.
The 63 bettered the previous tournament record of 64 by Sweden’s Louise Stahle in the first round of the 2007 tournament.
France’s Gwladys Nocera shot her third consecutive round of 68 to take sole possession of third place at 12-under 204.
Germany’s Caroline Masson, who needs to finish at least solo third to have a chance to win the Money List this year, was tied fourth one shot behind at 205 after a 69 alongside American Cindy Lacrosse (69).
Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, who leads the Money List right now, faltered with a one-over par 73 round to fall back to tied 20th place at 211, one shot behind the best Australian Bree Arthur, who hit a third round 71.
American Michelle Wie felt much better on the course, but a round of 70 could only elevate her to tied 31st place at 213.
Feng’s 18-under par score has already matched the record low winning score (by Annika Sorenstam in 2006 and In Kyung-Kim in 2009), and she still has a round to go.
But the only player from China to win a major title (this year’s LPGA Championship) said:
“I haven’t thought about it and I am happy with that achievement, but we have been lucky this year not to get much wind out there. It could get windy tomorrow and I could still end up higher than that score.”