Croce continues to lead in France

9/28/2008

Italian Stefania Croce shot a third round 71 to hold a two shot lead at the Vediorbis Open de France Dames on Saturday.

The 1992 Ford Ladies Classic champion finished on a total of 10-under-par 206, ahead of Sweden’s Nina Reis, who had a 72.

Croce trailed Reis by two strokes after 15 holes in the third round, the Swede having birdied holes nine, ten, 13 and 15. However, the 28-year-old from the Kungalv, who was the runner-up at last week’s Göteborg Masters after shooting 61 in the last round, then the tripled bogeyed the 17th and bogeyed the 18th. At the par-four 17th she hit her driver right and was forced to chip out to the fairway, before taking four putts.

German Anja Monke and England’s Laura Davies both shot 65 and moved up into a share of third position on six-under-par entering the final round. They both carded eight birdies and one bogey.

Spaniard Tania Elosegui shared of fifth with Sweden’s Cecilia Ekelundh on five-under-par, with England’s Georgina Simpson, Australia’s Leah Hart and France’s Anne-Lise Caudal a shot further back in a share of seventh.

England’s Lisa Hall, her compatriot Felicity Johnson and Spain’s Paula Marti all continued their recent good run of form finishing the day in a tie for 10th place.

Leaderboard – Round 3:

1.   Stefania Croce                   ITA  67 68 71 206 -10
2.   Nina Reis                          SWE  67 69 72 208 - 8
3.   Anja Monke                       GER  67 78 65 210 - 6
      Laura Davies                     ENG  72 73 65 210 - 6
5.   Tania Elosegui                   ESP  74 70 67 211 - 5
      Cecilia Ekelindh                 SWE  68 73 70 211 - 5
7.   Georgina Simpson              ENG  74 70 68 212 - 4
      Leah Hart                          AUS  71 73 68 212 - 4
      Anne-Lise Caudal               FRA  67 73 72 212 - 4
10. Lisa Hall                            ENG  74 69 70 213 - 3
      Paula Marti                        ESP  69 74 70 213 - 3
      Felicity Johnson                  ENG  70 72 71 213 - 3

53. Zuzana Kamasová               SVK  73 74 76 223 +7

Source: Ladies European Tour