Popov moves three clear at Troon with stunning 67

Germany’s Sophia Popov has opened up a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon.

The 27-year-old, who is ranked 304 in the world, and is making just her second appearance in the championship, fired a third round 67 to move to four under par with 18 holes left to play.

Popov, who only qualified for the event through the LPGA Tour’s Marathon Classic just two weeks ago, kickstarted her impressive round with an eagle at the par-5 4th and bookended the round with a 30-foot birdie putt at the par-3 17th.

Popov said: “I’d be lying if said I’m not going to be nervous tomorrow, but that’s why we play sport. We do this in order to get into these sorts of positions. It’s going to be a new feeling for me, leading in a major, so we are just going to have to see how it goes, take it one shot at a time and I’ll just try to do my thing.”

With overnight leader Dani Holmqvist struggling to a 77, Popov is three shots clear of Australian Minjee Lee and Jasmine Suwannapura from Thailand. Both Lee, the world number eight, and Suwannapura recorded  69s to lead the chasing pack on one-under-par.

American duo Austin Ernst and Lindsey Weaver are two shots further back in a tie for fourth place at one-over-par, alongside another German, Caroline Masson.  New Zealander Lydia Ko, chasing her first win since 2018, recorded a double bogey at the 10th to damage her hopes and is with Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen and American Kristen Gillman at two-over. Gillman posted five birdies in a superb front nine – including a near ace at the 95-yard 8th, the Postage Stamp – before having to settle for a 68.

There was a notable move too from Australia’s Katherine Kirk, who stormed 30 places through the field after a four-under 67 to reach three-over. However, world number four Nelly Korda suffered at the short Postage Stamp, making a double bogey, as she fell to four-over.

Georgia Hall’s hopes of adding to her 2018 title slipped even further away when she shot a three-over 74 to drop back to 10-over for the week. Catriona Matthew posted the same score as her hopes also faded, dropping to eight-over. England’s Mel Reid went in the other direction as the Englishwoman signed for a 68 to reach six-over and is the leading British player going into the final 18 holes in Ayrshire.

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