VIKKI LAING HANGING ON IN THERE IN JOINT THIRD PLACE IN DUBAI

FROM THE KHALEEJ TIMES WEBSITE

Stacy Lewis will take a two-shot lead into Sunday's fourth and final day of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters  at Emirates Golf Club, Dubai.
The American World No. 3 player birdied the ninth to take her out to 10-under par at the turn for home in Friday’s third round.
She made two further birdies along the back nine on the 12^th and at the last, but a bogey in between on the par-four 15^th meant she finished on 11-under for the tournament, two strokes clear of Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum.

Vikki Laing (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency) from Musselburgh is hanging on in there with a chance of her highest ever Ladies European Tour finish. She had a 69 for 210 to be sharing third place
“I’m right where I need to be going into tomorrow (Saturday),” Lewis said. “I like being out there and having people chase me and, if I just take care of myself, I’ll be fine. I know if you start hitting some shots close and take care of the par 5s on this golf course, you can shoot a good score. I’ve just got to play a little bit smarter and leave the ball in marginally better places, so I have some better putts.
“My game feels good. I still hit a ton of greens and, if I can just get a couple of birdies to fall early, then I’ll be in a good place.
“It’s just about taking what the course gives you and, if I do what I did yesterday (Thursday) and start making some putts, I’ll be fine. I like having a target on my back and being the one to beat.”
Lewis meanwhile has identified second-placed Phatlum and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, who is tied third on six-under with Scotland’s Vikki Laing and Diana Luna, of Italy, as her most likely challengers from the chasing pack.
“Pornanong and I played together for the first two days and she played so solidly,” she added. “She’s just kind of sneaky and steady, so she’s definitely somebody to look out for and Carlota hits it so far that she can take advantage of the par 5s, so I would look to those two.”
Phatlum will tee off alongside Lewis in the final group and it’s clear the diminutive and softly-spoken Thai won’t remotely be getting ahead of herself with the trophy in sight. “Stacy is the number three in the world and she’s a very good player. She’s playing very well this week,” Phatlum said.
 “My game is getting better and I’m just trying to play it shot-by-shot. I’ll just try my best and won’t put pressure on myself.”

LEADING THIRD ROUND TOTALS
205 Stacy Lewis (USA)  70 65 70 
207 Pornanong Phatlum (THA)  68 70 69 
210 Diana Luna (ITA)  73 68 69, Carlota Ciganda (ESP)  67 70 73, Vikki Laing (SCO)  71 70 69 
211 Pernilla Lindberg (SWE)  67 69 75, Louise Larsson (SWE)  72 71 68 
212 Laura Davies (ENG)  70 71 71 
214 Shanshan Feng (CHN)  76 67 71, Sarah Kemp (AUS)  70 72 72 
215 Jing Yan (CHN)  75 72 68, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA)  72 73 70, Maria Hjorth (SWE)  72 71 72, Charley Hull (ENG)  70 72 73, Gwladys Nocera (FRA)  71 73 71 
216 Maria Balikoeva (RUS)  70 76 70, Nontaya Srisawang (THA)  73 72 71, Mikaela Parmlid (SWE)  72 76 68, Cindy Lacrosse (USA)  73 70 73, Sophie Gustafson (SWE)  73 72 71 
217 Holly Clyburn (ENG)  75 72 70, Thidapa Suwannapura (THA)  71 74 72, Malene Jorgensen (DEN)  73 73 71 
218 Titiya Plucksataporn (THA)  73 74 71, Valentine Derrey (FRA)  70 72 76 
219 Veronica Zorzi (ITA)  75 73 71, Nikki Campbell (AUS)  74 73 72, Caroline Masson (GER)  69 72 78, Mireia Prat (ESP)  67 76 76, Sahra Hassan (WAL)  74 69 76, Connie Chen (RSA)  74 75 70, Beth Allen (USA)  71 72 76, Nikki Garrett (AUS)  78 70 71, Camilla Lennarth (SWE)  73 74 72 
220 Marion Ricordeau (FRA)  74 72 74, Linda Wessberg (SWE)  72 73 75, Klara Spilkova (CZE)  74 73 73, Liz Young (ENG)  72 75 73 
221 Margherita Rigon (ITA)  73 76 72, Noora Tamminen (FIN)  71 74 76, Sophie Giquel-bettan (FRA)  71 76 74, Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA)  74 73 74, Patcharajutar Kongkraphan (THA)  70 78 73