Lee-Anne Pace climbed closer to the top 20 on Saturday with a five-under-par 67 in the third round of the Ladies European Tour’s Aramco Saudi Ladies International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City.
She made seven birdies, including a run of five in a row from the fifth to the ninth, and two bogeys which lifted her to a share of 26th on seven-under through 54 holes. The lead was held by Lilia Vu of the United States, who, at 18-under, was ahead by one of world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand. Emily Kristine Pedersen of Denmark shared third on 16-under with India’s Aditi Ashok, while Lexi Thompson scythed through the field to reach fifth on 15-under with a none-under-par 63.
Pace got things going with a birdie on the first, and then came her golden run up to the turn, which she reached in six-under-par 30. The momentum slipped away from her when she bogeyed the 10th. She regained the stroke with a birdie on 12, but that was to be the last of her gains on the day, and she dropped another shot on the 14th.
Ashleigh Buhai remained the leading South African in the strong field. With her two-under-par 70 putting her at eight-under, one ahead of Pace and in a share of 18th.
Nicole Garcia was one behind Pace after her second 69 in a row put her alone in 30th on six-under for the tournament.
