Dubai: Felicity Johnson leads the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters by two strokes at seven under par heading into Saturday’s final round after carding a 64 – one shot off equalling the course record – on Friday.
The 29-year-old Englishwoman has had a torrid year with just one top 10 finish, a tied for second at the start of the season in New Zealand, out of 12 appearances in Europe.
Her form in America hasn’t been much better with eight missed cuts in 14 appearances.
And at this event in particular, she has missed the cut on three of the last five appearances.
Her best finish in Dubai was an eighth-place finish in 2012, while her last win came in 2011 at the French Open.
“I’ve been playing OK without putting it all together,” she said of her year, after shooting four birdies on either nine on Friday, starting off with four on her first five holes, before adding 64 to her opening 73.
“I know the things I’m working on are the right things. It’s just about being patient and today it clicked really well. So, yeah, I think the work I’ve been putting in kind of paid off today. It’s a long term plan I’m looking at but if it’s working this week, fantastic.
“It’s only a three round event so you try to put yourself in a good position heading into the final day and I think I did that today.
“You can only control what you can do, which is easier said than done sometimes. You don’t worry about other people, but if I try and make as many good golf swings as I can and make myself chances again, we’ll see what happens.”
Day one leader and fellow Englishwoman Florentyna Parker is two strokes behind Johnson in solo second after adding a level par 72 to her opening 67 to stay at five under for the tournament.
In contrast to Johnson, Parker has had a much better season in Europe with seven top 10s including four top five finishes in 16 appearances this year.
“The only thing I haven’t done this year is win,” she said after carding two bogies either side of two birdies on her front nine, before a bogey birdie finish for level par on Friday.
“That’s the only thing I’m thinking about doing tomorrow. I’m just going to go for it. I’ve got nothing to lose. I’ve had a great season and the only thing that’s missing is me winning. So that’s what I’ve got to do, I’m not really interested in finishing second or third.”
India’s Aditi Ashok and Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen sit a further shot back at three under par in tied for third.
Rookie of the Year Ashok, 18, who won back-to-back in India and Qatar last month added another 70 to her score, starting with a bogey before three birdies on her front, and ending with a birdie and a bogey. And Pedersen added 71 to an opening 69, courtesy of a bogey birdie start before a birdie on the return.
