Caroline Hedwall stormed nine shots clear of her half of the field at Ladies European Tour Pre-Qualifying School on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old from Loddekopinge in Sweden shot a third round of eight under par 64 on the South Course at La Manga Club in Cartagena, Murcia.
Hedwall, who recently turned professional after a phenomenal amateur career, returned a three round score of 11 under par, rocketing up the leader board with eight birdies, including four on the front nine and four on the back.
Hedwall is a laid back Swede who looks set for a successful career on tour. The next best placed player behind her was French amateur Joanna Klatten on two-under-par and Jaclyn Sweeney of the United States was the only other player under par in third.
American amateur Allison Micheletti, who has her boyfriend, European No.1 Martin Kaymer on the bag, continued to improve, adding a third round of 75 to her opening rounds of 89 and 76 to tie for 62nd.
Kaymer is not the only European Tour player on caddie duties at Pre-Qualifying, as Swedish professional Emelie Lind is attempting to retain her card with the help of her European Tour player boyfriend Alexander Noren on caddie duties.
Noren wrote on his blog: “It’s weird and really enjoyable to be on the other side of the shots for a change. But I don’t think I’m a good caddie though. I can’t keep my mouth shut;)”
Lind played on the other side of the course and shot rounds of 80, 74 and a 73 on the North to lie in a tie for 39th on her side of the draw.
Sweden’s Louise Larsson was at the head of affairs on four-under-par after a third round of 72 on the North course. She was one ahead of Japan’s Erika Kuwahara.
After Thursday’s fourth and final round, the leading 35 players and those tied will progress to Final Stage Qualifying at La Manga Club from 15-20 December, after which the top 30 players will earn their full cards in category 8a for the 2011 Ladies European Tour.
