Dubai: The Omega Dubai Ladies Classic looks headed for a pulsating finish on Sunday with leader Anne Van Dam facing an unprecedented challenge from a hungry pack of golfers led by a teenage Junior Solheim Cup winner and a Swede who started playing golf at the age of four.
The long-hitting Dutch player topped the leaderboard at the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course for the second successive day with a hard-earned two-under 70 for a three-round score of 240. But missed opportunities on an up-and-down round meant that she has plenty of ground to protect on the final day, even as she remains the overall favourite to lift the new Classic trophy by sunset.
Several players have run the three-day gauntlet on a challenging course with rare composure, leaving themselves in a good position to make a charge over the final 18 holes on Sunday.
Among them are Angel Yin, a 17-year-old golf prodigy and Solheim Cup star from Aracadia, California, who played above expectations on Friday to shoot a seven-under 65. Her round was decorated with seven birdies, which were a result of beautifully struck iron shots.
Kim shares joint second position on 241 with Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg, who carded a six-under 66 leaving her with the momentum to pick up where she left off on Saturday when she returns to the course on the final day.
Recalling her performance, Van Dam said: “it was a bit up and down. There were quite some good things also. On some little shots I struggled a bit, but I would say overall, 2-under is fine today.”
Overall the Ladies Classic still wears an open look, with several other experienced players, including the legendary Laura Davies, a record seven time Ladies European Tour Order of Merit-winner and 2009 Dubai champion In-Kyung Kim, in contention.
Davies, who bounced back following rounds of 69 and 73, with a six-under 66 said: “Overall, the putting’s the thing that’s turned around the last eight, ten weeks, and that creates birdies.
“(My) Ball-striking’s decent, but it takes the pressure off when you know you don’t have to hit it stiff to make a birdie anymore. So putting, that’s all it is.”
Assessing the final day’s play, a scenario she knows all too well, the 54-year-old from Coventry, England, said: “Well just depends what Anne does.
Well, ultimately, I haven’t won for seven years on the regular tour. Winning, that’s the only thing you come here for. As unrealistic as people probably think it is, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could win depending on how these girls finish the last few holes.
“But if I had just shot a couple 3-under yesterday, then I would be the one at the top of the leaderboard.
“I believe I can win. I’m not saying I will, by a long shot, but if any of the girls are here and don’t think they can win, they probably shouldn’t be here.”
Kim shot a 66 and said of her round: “I think I hit the ball really well today. I gave myself a lot of opportunities. But I think it just paid off, staying patient, to finish birdie on 17 and 18.
“I just want to play well tomorrow and go home to see my family. (Today) I think I had the privilege to play without the wind. You know, less hassle. “It’s not impossible, but when it’s windy, the scores can be tricky.”
Yin, who acknowledges being one of the biggest hitters on the tour said she was ‘really happy’ about her round today.
“Overall, I stroked it pretty well and made a few putts. I hit my iron shots really good as well. Those four birdies, I think three of them were a foot away from the hole, so it was a tap-in. Usually when you start off well, you don’t close it off that well, but today I did. “I’m really happy with my round overall.”
Scores
1 Anne Van Dam (NED) -12
2 Angel Yin (USA) -10 11:26
2 Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) -10
4 Charley Hull (ENG) -9
4 Aditi Ashok (IND) -9
6 In-Kyung Kim (KOR) -8
6 Laura Davies (ENG) -8
6 Katie Burnett (USA) -8
6 Laura Jansone (LAT) -8
6 Florentyna Parker (ENG) -8
6 Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN) -8
