Anna Foster is best placed of the Irish going into the final round of the LET’s Ford Women’s NSW Open, but she will be a little disappointed not to have built on an impressive second round and lies tied for 34th.
A 67 on day two pushed the Elm Park woman into the top 20 heading into day three, but a level-par 71, comprised of four birdies, two bogeys and a double means she’ll have to shoot a round in the 60s if she’s to claim a maiden top-20 finish in her rookie LET season.
Lauren Walsh carded a one-over 72 to lie T59th at +1 alongside Annabel Wilson who closed out with a double bogey to shoot 74 after a blistering 66 on day two saw her charging up the leaderboard.
Mimi Rhodes will take a one shot lead into the final round after the rookie carded a bogey-free 68 on Saturday to move to 15-under.
“It was really windy at the start so on the tough holes I had to place the ball really nicely on the green,” Rhodes explained, having fired a course record 62 (-9) in round three. “Overall I’m really happy with how I struck the ball. I still played as aggressive as I did yesterday, the putts just didn’t drop. I stayed calm because I knew putts would drop at the end.”
She leads Italian Allessandra Finali by a single stroke, with Spain’s Nuria Iturrioz and home favourite Kirsten Rudgeley two shots further adrift on -12.
“I love playing in front of crowds,” Rhodes added, having impressed in the Curtis Cup in 2024 and captured an LET Access Series win as an amateur. “The nerves and the pressure, it’s honestly why we play golf. I had loads of fun out there.
“I would say the pressure is pretty similar [to big amateur events]. There’s so many good players and you never know who might come out and shoot a low score. I’ve learned how to deal with it and I know how to have fun. I’m just going to try and do that tomorrow.
“I’ll do some practice this afternoon, go for dinner with some friends and have an early night. I might for a run tomorrow morning on the beach to clear my head.”
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