Melissa Reid - Photo credit: © Ladies European Tour

After a difficult start in the scorching conditions, the 27-year-old Englishwoman, already winner of the tournament in 2010 was joined by the Scottish Pretswell at the 15 hole, who finally gave her the advantage at 18 on a par 4 mounted.

Reid finished at the end of the third round with a score of 208 - 11 in total.

“It was really tough this afternoon,” said Reid, after a third round at 74 (+1). “The greens are almost unplayable, they are so firm. We were struggling to hold on. I still felt like I was in between irons. I needed a nine and a half or an eight and a half. I am generally very happy with my game under these conditions, because I hope to do better tomorrow. "

Three French women remain in the race including Lucie Andrée and Gwladys Nocera in 5th and 8th position and Isabelle Boineau, 15th.

3rd round scores:

208 - Melissa Reid (ENG) 65 69 74

209 - Pamela Pretswell (SCO) 72 65 72

211 - Sally Watson (SCO) 72 71 68

212 - Rebecca Artis (AUS) 69 71 72, Lucie André (FRA) 71 70 71

214 - Nanna Koerstz Madsen (DNK) 72 75 67, Laura Davies (ENG) 66 77 71, Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 68 70 76, Kylie Walker (SCO) 72 74 68

215 - Lynn Carlsson (SWE) 72 71 72, Carly Booth (SCO) 70 70 75, Tonje Daffinrud (NOR) 75 68 72

216 - Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 71 73 72, Lina Boqvist (SWE) 73 73 70, Isabelle Boineau (FRA) 70 73 73, Bree Arthur (AUS) 76 72 68, Chloé Leurquin (BEL) 70 73 73, Beth Allen ( USA) 72 71 73

217 - Liz Young (ENG) 71 74 72, Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN) 80 71 66, Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA) 73 70 74

218 - Camilla Lennarth (SWE) 71 71 76, Louise Stahle (SWE) 76 73 69, Emily Kristine Pedersen (DNK) 75 73 70

219 - Lauren Taylor (ENG) 71 76 72

220 - Malene Jorgensen (DEN) 70 75 75, Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 72 76 72, Patricia Sanz Barrio (ESP) 74 74 72, Caroline Afonso (FRA) 76 73 71, Georgia Hall (ENG) 72 71 77, Florentyna Parker (ENG) 73 75 72, Amy Boulden (WAL) 71 70 79, Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 72 74 74

221 - Fabienne In-Albon (SWI) 73 74 74, Christine Wolf (AUT) 75 74 72, Daisy Nielsen (DEN) 76 73 72, Klara Spilkova (CZE) 77 69 75, Stefania Croce (ITA) 77 74 70, Marion Ricordeau (FRA) 74 77 70

222 - Caroline Martens (NOR) 69 80 73, Laura Jansone (LVA) 76 71 75, Miriam Nagl (BRA) 74 76 72

223 - Maha Haddioui (MAR) 74 75 74, Stacey Keating (AUS) 77 74 72, Ann-Kathrin Lindner (GER) 76 73 74

224 - holly Clyburn (ENG) 73 74 77, Sseu-Chia Cheng (TPE) 75 73 76, Maria Balikoeva (RUS) 73 76 75, Marta Sanz Barrio (ESP) 78 73 73

225 - Sophie Sandolo (ITA) 74 77 74, Noora Tamminen (FIN) 69 82 74

226 - Monique Smit (RSA) 75 75 76, Lien Willems (BEL) 72 79 75, Melissa Eaton (RSA) 72 74 80, Vikki Laing (SCO) 73 70 83

227 - Nicole Garcia (RSA) 75 75 77, Nina Holleder (GER) 79 72 76, Diana Luna (ITA) 75 76 76, Alex Peters (ENG) 75 76 76, Hannah Ralph (ENG) 74 76 77, Emma Westin ( SWE) 78 73 76, Holly Aitchison (ENG) 75 75 77

228 - Emma Goddard (ENG) 78 73 77, Csilla Lajtai-rozsa (HUN) 74 74 80, Linda Henriksson (FIN) 72 79 77

229 - Steffi Kirchmayr (GER) 73 77 79

230 - Martyna Mierzwa (POL) 73 77 80, Virginia Espejo (ESP) 73 74 83