(Harlech, Wales – Saturday 8th August 2009) — Amy Yang retained her lead at the S4C Wales Ladies Championship of Europe on Saturday.

The 20-year-old South Korean carded a third round of one-under-par 71 on another sunny day at Royal St.David’s Golf Course in Harlech.

She finished at 12-under-par 204 for the tournament, two strokes clear of Karen Stupples from England, who shot 66.

After opening with 68 and 65, Yang carded four birdies and three bogeys.

Stupples, the 2004 Women’s British Open champion, finished at 10-under-par, after six birdies, a double-bogey at the seventh and an eagle at the eighth.

“It was pretty solid. I got off to a really good start but had one bad hole, the seventh, but came back with an eagle at the eighth. From that point on I really didn’t look back,” Stupples said.

After two victories in 2004, the Kent 36-year-old is seeking her first title in five years.

She added: “It’s all to play for. I’d love to have another good round like today really. In fairness I’ve played pretty well throughout the week.”

Frenchwoman Jade Schaeffer carded a 71 and sat in third place, four shots off the pace on eight-under.

Solheim Cup star Becky Brewerton kept the dream of winning her home title alive with a level par 72 and finished five strokes behind the leader at seven-under-par in outright fourth position.

As the leading Welsh player in the field, she was aware that a low round would be required if she is to take her third Ladies European Tour title.

“A lot can change. We’ve been pretty lucky with the weather so far and the wind hasn’t really blown hard so I guess in a way I’ll probably be hoping for that tomorrow because I think that gives you more of a chance,” said Brewerton, 26, from Abergele.

Her up-and-down third round included an eagle, two birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey.

“I’d have to play an awful lot better even if the wind does get up,” she added. “It was absolutely horrendous. Somehow by some miracle I managed to get around in level par which I’m very, very happy with.”

“It was really strange. I hit some shots so far off line that they actually ended up being okay. They were even wide of where the trouble was. Even on 15 where I made the eagle I was lucky to hang on in the short rough and hit an okay shot into the green. I couldn’t see it but it must have had a couple of nice bounces and rolled up close. When your luck’s in, your luck’s in.”

The next best placed Welsh player was Wrexham’s Breanne Loucks, who shot 73 for a two-under total and a six-way share of 13th position.

The 21-year-old rookie was disappointed to be 12 shots off the pace having dropped three shots in her last four holes.

“I’m a bit annoyed. I was two-under after nine and I made a few too many silly mistakes; a few mental errors and I finished one-over. I’m a bit gutted really,” Loucks said.

Australian Katherine Hull, ranked 19th in the world, shot 75 for a six-under total and outright fifth place, followed by Italian Diana Luna in sixth on five-under.

In equal seventh place on four-under-par were Paraguayan Julieta Granada (69), Frenchwoman Sophie Giquel (69), Italian Federica Piovano (70) and Marjet van der Graaff from the Netherlands (71).

Final round play begins at 7.30am on Sunday with the leaders out at 12.36pm.