Dane Emily Pedersen on course to complete LET title hat-trick

Kelsey MacDonald stayed on course for a second top-10 finish in her last four events on the Ladies European Tour as in-form Emily Pedersen closed in on a third win in a row.

Emily Pedersen in action in the third round of the Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open De Espana. Picture: Tritan Jones

In the season-ending Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open De Espana, MacDonald found herself playing 29 holes in one day due to a weather delay earlier in the week at Real Club De Golf Guadalmina.

She faced an early-morning return to complete her second round, signing for a 71, before heading straight back out for the penultimate circuit.

It proved to be a topsy-turvy affair for the 30-year-old from Nairn but, helped by two birdies in the last five holes, she salvaged a one-over 73.

That left her sitting fifth on four-under, five shots behind Pedersen after the in-form Dane eagled the last to hold a one-shot lead over Spaniard Nuria Iturrioz.

Order of Merit winner Pedersen posted a bogey-free, the highlight of which came when she putted from 30ft on the par-five 18th after a fine approach from 171 yards.

She is on course to become the first person to win three consecutive events on the Ladies European Tour since Marie-Laure de Lorenzi did so 31 years ago.

"It never gets boring leading; this is why I practice so hard to be in this position so no complaints from me," she said.

"I took a chance with the second shot on 18, I knew it was risky but I was confident I could pull it off, I hit it really solid and played well but couldn't quite make the putts until the end."

Home favourite Iturrioz boasted a three-shot lead at the halfway stage and briefly increased her advantage to five strokes with three successive birdies from the second, but she then faltered and settled for a level-par 72.

"I made a few bad decisions out there which led to three bogeys and that's it," she said. "I hope I keep playing like this (on Sunday), with less mistakes and we will see what happens."

Kylie Henry sits in a tie for tenth after carding a 71 to move to one-under.

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