South Africa’s Casandra Alexander was in solo second place one shot back after a round of four-under-par 68 in the third round of the Wistron Ladies Open. The Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit leader had eight birdies and four bogeys on her scorecard on day three.

Ching Huang fired a round of 65 to storm into the lead at the 54-hole mark. The Chinese Taipei player made her first birdie on the fifth hole and rolled in four consecutively before making her only bogey of the day on the ninth. Huang continued her fine form at Sunrise Golf and Country Club with birdies on 10, 12, 16 and 18 to move to the top of the leaderboard on 14-under-par and lead by one.

“It was a tough day out there. Doug and I said if we can be level par, then anything else on top of that would be a bonus. At the same time, I feel I did leave a couple of shots out there, but it was tricky conditions,” said the three-time LET winner Alexander.

“It’s so easy for us to be hard on ourselves. There were a couple of wedges where it was straight downwind and then I’ve made a drop from there which feels frustrating, but it is part of the tricky conditions. Overall, I’m happy, I wouldn’t say disappointed, but it was close. It was good and another day to go.

“I feel a lot more relaxed because I don’t have to win. Usually, it’s like you have to win, but at the same time I’m not taking my foot off the gas. I’d like to win as many golf tournaments as possible and every time you get to a tournament you want to win.

“I’m in a good position and I haven’t been in the final group as much as one would think, so it’s also nice to just gain that experience no matter the outcome tomorrow. I will definitely be going for it.”

England’s Hannah Screen was in outright third place on 12-under-par after a round of 70.