Kirsten Rudgeley continued her fine form in Spain producing a round of 68 (-4) on day three of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España.
The Australian, who held a two-shot lead overnight had another day without a blemish on her scorecard at Real Club de Golf Las Brisas.
After making her first birdie on the third, the rookie rolled in three more on the ninth, 10th and 12th holes to sit at the top of the leaderboard on 13-under-par.
Kirsten Rudgeley is taking a two shot lead into the final day 👏#RaiseOurGame | #OpenDeEspaña pic.twitter.com/ycx4c2fxOV
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 25, 2023
Two players are in a tie for second place with Dutch star Anne van Dam and India’s Aditi Ashok both on 11-under-par at the 54-hole mark.
Five-time LET winner Van Dam carded a bogey-free 65 (-7) to climb up the leaderboard with four birdies on her front nine and three on her back nine.
Van Dam enjoys playing in this part of Europe having won the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España title in 2018 and 2019.
While Ashok had a phenomenal start to her round with five birdies on her front in Spain and she added another on hole 10.
The two-time Olympian ran into some trouble on 13 where she made a double bogey but soon made a birdie on 15 before another bogey on 17 for her round of 68 (-4).
Three players are in a share of fourth place with Belgium’s Manon De Roey, France’s Celine Boutier and Spain’s Ana Peláez Trivino all on nine-under-par.
LET winner De Roey produced a round of 67 (-5) to move herself up the leaderboard with seven birdies and two bogeys on her scorecard.
Major champion and world number three Boutier carded a round of 68 (-4) while Peláez Trivino signed for a round of 70 (-2).
England’s Gabriella Cowley, Spanish amateur Andrea Revuelta and 2022 Race to Costa del Sol champion Linn Grant are all T7 on eight-under after the first three days.
One shot further back is Norway’s Madelene Stavnar and France’s Anne-Lise Caudal, who are both tied for 10th place.
Round of the day went to Finland’s Sanna Nuutinen who fired a 64 (-8) to equal the course record set by Seve Ballesteros at the 1987 Open de España.
𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗔 🤝 𝗦𝗘𝗩𝗘
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 25, 2023
Sanna Nuutinen fires the round of the week 64 (-8) & equals the Real Club de Golf Las Brisas course record set by Seve Ballesteros at the 1987 Open de España ✍️#RaiseOurGame | #OpenDeEspaña pic.twitter.com/Hk2mGEfHUQ
Based on the current positions of the Race to Costa del Sol contenders after the third round, Thailand’s Trichat Cheenglab is still in pole position and is projected to stay at the top of the rankings.
The final round begins at 9 am (local time) with the leaders teeing off at 11:01 am (local time) in Spain.
Rudgeley holds a two shot leading heading into round 4 & the final day of the 2023 season 📈#RaiseOurGame | #OpenDeEspaña pic.twitter.com/xOfH69UYt0
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 25, 2023
© Ladies European Tour