Gabriella Cowley of England carded a 5-under-par 67 on Saturday to seize a one-stroke lead after the third round at the ISPS Handa World Invitational in Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Playing the par-72 Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Cowley bounced back from a 75 in the second round to collect seven birdies against two bogeys to move to 6-under for the tournament.
“Obviously, it’s great,” said Cowley, who is bidding for her first LET title. “Today was just a really good day. I felt really in control and just really enjoyed it.
“I thought the course setup today was great. There is still rain and wind, but it just wasn’t as severe, and the course wasn’t playing as tough and as long. The rough just seemed to actually not settle down as much. It’s still thick, but it just didn’t seem to nestle down as much today. There were a few more birdie chances today.
“It’s what we wish for to lead a tournament and things we want to do as much as we can, so I think I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. I’m playing well, so just see what happens.”
Cowley, who shared the lead with three other golfers after the first round, missed the cut at this tournament in both 2021 and 2022. Now she resides one shot ahead of Ryann O’Toole (68) and Germany’s Esther Henseleit (69) and two in front of Switzerland’s Kim Metraux (69).
O’Toole had five birdies against one bogey, Henseleit had four and one, and Metraux added five birdies to offset her double-bogey on No. 17.
“I definitely feel like my game is trending,” said O’Toole, who won the 2021 Women’s Scottish Open. “I noticed it the last couple weeks. Things are starting to fall into place, I’m very consistent with the things I’ve been working on.
“It’s just been getting the confidence up there, there is not a lot of erratic shots, so it’s been really good. I like shotmaking. I think every hole is different. You have to work the ball. I really like that.”
LPGA Tour rookie Alexa Pano (69), Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela (68), England’s Bronte Law (69) and Germany’s Olivia Cowan (71) rest in a four-way tie for fifth place.
Second-round leader Marissa Steen followed up two rounds under par by shooting a 75 on Saturday. She fell into a tie for 11th place at even-par for the tournament.
–Field Level Media
