(Salamanca, June 1 2002) Karine Icher from France opened up a two shot lead after the third round of the €250,000 Caja Duero Open de Espana, carding a four under par 68 in unbroken sunshine at Campo de Golf Salamanca.

The 23-year-old from Châteauroux leads on ten under par, ahead of local favourite and European number one Raquel Carriedo from Spain, who struggled with her putter during a two under par 70, and Lynnette Brooky from New Zealand, who despite being hit on the ankle bone with a wayward shot, strolled in with a three under par 69.

Sara Beautell from Tenerife takes sole possession of fourth place on seven under after a three under 69 and is one shot clear of Marine Monnet from France and Spaniard Marina Arruti, with Scotland’s Julie Forbes a shot further back on five under.

Brooky – sore ankle!

Brooky made an early move for the lead with birdies at the second, fourth and fifth before giving shots back at the sixth and seventh after finding almost unplayable lies in the rough.

At the 11th, the 34-year-old Kiwi must have thought her luck had run out after playing partner Ana Belen Sanchez pulled her three wood approach to the par five 11th so badly that it barely got airborne and hit Brooky, who was standing 100 yards ahead in the left rough.

After applying a makeshift icepack, the injured golfer rapped in a putt from off the green at the 12th and added another red number at the 16th to keep her on target for a place in the Evian Masters in two weeks time.

“My putting has been very good lately, so anything can happen tomorrow,” said Brooky, whose last win came at the 1998 Austrian Open.

“I’m just going for it, I know what I have to do – It’s Sunday and it’s the last chance.

Carriedo despaired with her putter for most of the day, but admitted she made some good saves to keep her in the hunt for her fifth career title and second of the year.

The 30-year-old from Zaragoza admitted that the 12-foot par saving putt at the second hole was her only significant putt during a frustrating day on the greens.

Her other birdies came from a “simple” two putt birdie at the par five fifth and a tap in at the 8th to turn in two under par, adding her last birdie at the 14th from eight feet.

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