Kelsey Bennett will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Australian Women’s Classic, while Áine Donegan will need a big final round if she’s to make it back-to-back top 20 finishes in her rookie season.
The Lahinch woman came into moving day tied for 17th after rounds of 69 and 72, but a run of three consecutive bogeys on the front nine saw her fall 10 shots off the lead.
She steadied the ship on the back side and played the nine in one-under after birdieing the 10th and 17th and bogeying the 16th, but the two-over 74 leaves her tied for 33rd, 12 shots off the lead and three outside the top 20.
Bennett, who took a one-stroke lead into the weekend, maintained her slender advantage after a two-under round of 70.
Playing alongside Thailand’s Trichat Cheenglab and England’s Meghan MacLaren at Magenta Shores, the Australian got off to an excellent start birdying the par-5 1st to the delight of the home fans in attendance.
Bennett followed this up with a birdie at the 4th before she suffered a series of lip outs through the turn. A matchplay situation with MacLaren soon unfolded from the 13th as the Englishwoman made a stunning birdie to take the outright lead as her counterpart dropped a shot.
Two holes later, another two shot swing as MacLaren was forced to pitch up to the green twice with Bennett two-putting for birdie.
The 26-year-old from New South Wales would par home as MacLaren bogeyed the short par-3 16th before bouncing back with a superb birdie at the 17th.
Just one shot now separates the pair heading into the fourth and final round in Australia. MacLaren’s compatriot, rookie Caley McGinty, also sits one back after carding another bogey-free scorecard, a four-under par 68.
“I had so many chances out there,” Bennett said. “Plenty inside 15-feet early on. I’m super happy with the way I’m hitting it, I just need a few to drop tomorrow.
“I just need to stay in my own lane tomorrow and yeah, just give myself as many chances as possible. It’s literally the only thing you can do.”
Bennett is eyeing a maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) win in her home state after finishing T8 at last week’s Ford Women’s NSW Open. She also finished T12 at the season-opening PIF Saudi Ladies International in Riyadh.
MacLaren meanwhile sits on the brink of a stunning fourth victory Down Under having won this tournament back in 2022 alongside two Ford Women’s NSW Opens in 2018 and 2019. She matched Bennett’s score on day three after “grinding things out” at Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club.
“I didn’t play my best today,” MacLaren said, who earned her full LET status back at Q-School in December. “I played great yesterday and just didn’t quite have it today, but I made a couple of really good pars on those opening few holes, which I think was quite important at the time just to, you know, keep myself in it.
“It’s amazing [to be in this position again]. If I kind of take a step back and have some perspective on it is really cool place to be given how long it’s been – probably three years. Like I was saying yesterday, mindset wise, this is where I want to be, and this is what I expect from myself. Tomorrow’s one day, I don’t know what will happen, but this is what I want to keep doing week in, week out. That’s kind of just how I want to approach the round tomorrow.”
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