Hulencourt (Belgium), Jun 14 (IANS) India’s Avani Prashanth holds the lead heading into the final day of the Hulencourt Women’s Open, after carding a composed 68 (-3) on a moving day in Belgium.

The LET rookie secured four birdies on a much cooler day at Hulencourt, with her only blemish coming on the 18th hole. With 18 holes remaining, she will take a one-shot advantage into Sunday’s final round.

The other two Indians who made the cut were Diksha Dagar (72-73-70) at 1-under and T-32 and Tvesa Malik (76-70-71) at 1-over and T-42nd. The other Indians, Vani Kapoor (76-73), Sneha Singh (74-75), Amandeep Drall (74-76), and Hitaashee Bakshi (79-74), missed the cut.

Avani said, “The wind switched up today, so it was like a different golf course altogether”, said Prashanth. “I definitely had to play a little conservatively in some places, which I don’t like to do, but obviously I was forced to. I just stayed patient the whole time.”

The 18-year-old produced a superb birdie on the 14th, holing a great birdie putt from off the green.

“I misjudged that number a little bit, but I’m glad it turned out the way it did. The temperatures were down a little bit today, which I guess made it slightly easier. Yesterday, everyone was complaining about the heat, but I think golf was a little easier for everyone today. I preferred it a bit more yesterday because of how far the ball was going, but I’m definitely happy that it wasn’t as hot. I had to try really hard to focus all day yesterday, and by the 8th and 9th holes, I was so tired, so thankfully that didn’t happen today.”

Heading into Sunday, the teen said: “There will obviously be some nerves, but I just try and forget about it. I love playing under pressure and I love chasing, but thankfully I don’t have to do that now, so I’m just going to put my best foot forward tomorrow and see how it goes.”

France’s Nastasia Nadaud and Wales’ Darcey Harry sit in a tie for second place heading into tomorrow, with scorecards of nine-under-par.

Nadaud began the day four shots off the pace but closed the gap with a strong third round, finishing just one shot off the lead. “It was a very good day – I think I hit the ball very well and gave myself opportunities,” said the 20-year-old.

“Today was a bit better weather-wise. It was so hot yesterday, and the rain [during today’s round] felt refreshing, to be honest,” she added.

She knows what it’s like to play under pressure, having secured victory over Team Hall in a three-way playoff at the Aramco Team Series – London last year.

Germany’s Helen Briem – the overnight leader – sits in solo fourth place on eight-under-par after 54 holes. Briem carded two bogeys but was able to follow them up with two birdies, making it a solid par round for the day.

–IANS

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