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| Yang and the Ping i10 7-iron used the ace the 7th hole |
Yang will attempt to reduce the six shot deficit in the final round, however Gwladys Nocera, placed third on 15-under-par, conceded that she may be playing for second position.
Nocera, who won her maiden title at the same venue in 2006, rocketed up the leader board after lowering her own course record from two years ago with a ten-under-par 62. She enters the round seven shots behind the Pettersen.
“Even if I finish second behind her it’s still a great performance I think. I’m just going to play my game and try to see how I stand behind her,” said Nocera, a six time LET tournament champion.
“I played really well. I don’t think I could have hit the ball better than I did today. I was getting frustrated because I have been hitting the ball so good. Yesterday I hit 18 greens and I just made three-under. I was just thinking, “Okay I need to make putts now because I know I can shoot low.” After 15 holes Raf (Nocera’s caddie) said: “You know if you make three birdies you break your own record?” and I said: “Don’t worry I have that in mind.” It was fun.
“It feels really good to be back here. Last year was tough. I had a hard time defending my title but I remember so many good things from two years ago. Even last year I didn’t play well but the course is great, I love it and the greens are perfect. I think this is the place for me.”
In the final round Nocera will tee up alongside recent LET winner Lotta Wahlin from Sweden, who had a 66 to finish on 12-under. Meanwhile England’s Laura Davies finished in fifth on 11-under and will play with Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord, one of three players on ten-under.
The better known Norwegian, Pettersen will play at 12.36pm with Yang and will be aiming for her first victory of 2008 after six wins around the world last year.
Pettersen carded seven birdies, one eagle, and her only bogey- at the par-four 14th – in her third round. Even then, she missed several chances, including a 15-foot putt for eagle at the par-five 18th.
