After three rounds, Céline Boutier and Lydia Ko share the lead at the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open in Ayrshire, Scotland at Dundonald Links. The French number 1 will start this Sunday in the last part alongside the New Zealander to try to win a third title in four years on the LPGA Tour.

Celine Boutier co-leaders (T3) Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open , Dundonald Links, Credit: Tristan Jones/LET

Céline Boutier found all its marks and played its best game, taking full advantage of the slightly windy weather and better than expected for this moving day. The French number 1 started her day four strokes behind the leader Lydia Ko, and finished it co-leader with the New Zealander, posting an excellent card of 67 (-5), five birdies to go including 3 in a row on holes 5, 6 and 7, for one birdie against a bogey on the return, one lap remaining at Dundonald Links.

"It was a very solid day," Boutier said. “I started the go pretty hard and it helped me relax a bit. The conditions were windier and a bit more challenging so it was really good to get a good start and I stayed very patient. I had many opportunities and I took advantage of some of them.

“I really like links and playing in windy conditions. I feel like my ball flight is pretty low, so I have no trouble getting it. hold, which is an advantage here because the ball isn't affected as much. I also have fond memories of Scotland, of playing well in the past, so that's always helpful.

“I think what I learned from being in this position previously is that really anything can happen whether you have the lead or not. Try not to push yourself too hard and focus on what you can control, which is each shot at a time.

Former world number 1 Lydia Ko, mid-term leader played 71 (-1) dropping her first bogey of the tournament at 3 this Saturday, less efficient than for the first two rounds during this third day in the wind with four birdies against three bogeys at Dundonald Links.

 

“I think I drove a little better than I did before,” Ko said. “My irons weren't as accurate as the first two days, so I didn't think I was prepared for so many 5-yard opportunities and easier birdies.

“On some holes today I felt like the hole wasn't apparent on the green, and it's pretty hard to read those greens. Even on Thursday and Friday I obviously played really well but there were putts where I thought I was going in or at least hitting the hole…

The Canadian Maude Aimee Leblanc in the footsteps of his compatriot Brook Henderson, winner of The Amundi Evian Championship on Sunday and L'Allemande Leonie Harms are tied for third place just one stroke behind the leaders at -14.

It was another great day for Harm, who like Celine Boutier returned a 67 (-5) card with six birdies and a bogey on his scoreboard.

“I really enjoyed this day”, said the 24-year-old . “It was a bit windier so it was actually a lot tougher than the previous two rounds and I'm very, very proud of myself to still have a very low score on my map. I really like to play golf and it was another good test today.

“It was a bit of a difficult start. I had a few normal saves on the front nine and couldn't really hit it as close as I was used to on the previous days. I had that bogey on three, which set me back a bit, but luckily I had the ability to turn it around with good saves on seven and eight and a long birdie putt on nine. I had a great result and was -4 for the last five holes, so I'm really happy with that.

On the side of the rest of the tricolor clan, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, had more trouble this Saturday, conceding 3 bogeys on its last seven holes, the Varoise fell to 21st position. The two other blues having crossed the cut returned like the day before, identical cards of 69 (-3). Emma Grechi et Perrine Delacour rise to 34th place.

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Boutier 2nd after the first round in Scotland