“This is the first time I have holed out for an eagle from the fairway in my career,” she said. “My best finish on the LET is tied 26th. I am very comfortable around these conditions in the Middle East – the weather, the temperatures, the courses, the facilities and everything else, one of the perks of living in Dubai. I love the golf course here in King Abdullah Economic City. Being so close to the sea, there is just more wind than I am used to.”
Dubai resident Chiara Noja is targeting her best Ladies European Tour finish to date after the 16 year old posted an impressive three under par 69 to move up to a share of seventh at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International.
Noja, who is making just her third professional start, carded two eagles and two birdies during the third round as she hunted Georgia Hall at the top of the leaderboard.
Hall looks set to claim her maiden regular season Ladies European Tour tournament title after sailing into a five-shot lead ahead of Sunday’s final round thanks to a near perfect four-under-par 68.
Hall famously won the 2018 Women’s Open at Royal Lytham, a triumph that remains her sole Major title. More remarkably, it is also her only LET win to date.
That, however, looks set to change tomorrow, as the World No.25 heads-out for her closing round five-shots clear on a course where she holds the ladies’ record.
Hall said: “That was probably the best long game performance I’ve had so far. I was pretty steady out there, not a lot went wrong. I could have holed a few more putts but it was a decent day.”
This is a tournament that Hall has twice come close in, most notably losing out to Emily Kristine Pedersen in a play-off in 2020.
Asked how she will navigate Sunday’s final round, she responded: “Just do the same thing, really. Eighteen holes is a lot. Just go out there and stay focused and hit one shot at a time, I think. Yeah, just enjoy it and see what happens.
“Obviously, I’ve played well here before, but every tournament I go out to win regardless of my past on it. So, yeah, just go out there, and until the last putt drops, keep focusing.”
Reigning AIG Women’s Open champion Anna Nordqvist is in closest striking distance to Hall, albeit it five shots back.
A birdie four from off the green on the 18th put the Swede one ahead of compatriot Johanna Gustavsson on five-under-par. Gustavsson had earlier set the day’s pace with a Saturday-low 67.
Nordqvist said: “I hit the ball really, really well on the front nine. I hit good putts, but they didn’t drop, so it was a little frustrating to turn at one-under.
“I’ve found this week really challenging. I don’t think there’s one easy shot out there. With the wind, it’s hard to get a feel for it, but I feel like it was a battle on the back nine.
“I had a great up and down on 14. Par shot on 15. Then birdied 16. I got a little unlucky break there on 18 being up against the wind there. I really didn’t have a good shot, but it was a pure bonus that I made the putt off the green. I was just trying to give myself a good chance for par.
“Overall, I’m proud of myself. It’s just been so windy all week. It’s hard not to let it get to you. When you’re starting balls 25 yards either side or popping up your clubs to get it down, it’s just tough.”
On her round, Gustavsson said: “I was a lot more solid today. I struggled a bit with my driving this week but speaking with my coach on the phone a bit yesterday I kind of worked some things out, and it did help. So [today] was good driving, good off the tee, and then hitting a lot of greens and holing some putts.
“Because it’s so early in the season, I’m just trying to get back into the game. Back in Sweden, I’ve been indoors for a lot of weeks now and I’m just getting out on grass again and trying to get into it, because I have a lot of weeks coming up. So yeah, it’s nice.”
Former Czech Republic international footballer cum LET rookie Kristyna Napoleaova, who is coached by Jamie Jamie McConnell at the Claude Harmon III Performance Golf Academy.
“I found it really great, and I would do it all over again if I could,” said an undaunted Napoleaova, who finished two-over for the day, dropping her back to four-under-par total, but still in a share of third.
“I’m actually looking forward for tomorrow, and we’ll see how it’s going to go. But it was definitely like a new experience which I’ve never really had before. I really enjoyed it.”
