Emma Spitz and Alexandra Försterling share the lead on seven-under-par going into the final round of Amundi German Masters at Golf & Country Club Seddiner See.
It was an excellent third day for Austria’s Spitz as she fired a 66 (-6) to move herself up to the top of the leaderboard.
The 24-year-old began her round with a birdie on the first before adding another on the third and a further birdie on the sixth.
Spitz dropped a shot on the 12th but bounced back immediately with back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14 before rolling in two more on 16 and 18 to seal her round of six-under.
“I got off to a much better start than yesterday and then got some confidence with the putter and was also able to make some really nice iron shots that left me very short birdie putts, so that was really nice,” said Spitz.
“I didn’t feel like I played bad yesterday, I had a couple of three-putts in the first few holes and then I was running behind those holes the whole round. I felt like I was playing well so didn’t feel like I needed to change anything. I just tried to play the same as the last two days.
“In golf, if you feel good then it probably doesn’t matter too much what the conditions are. It’s about confidence and I think I got some good confidence the first day and I hope I can keep it up.”
Three-time LET winner Försterling, who led at the midway mark of the competition, produced a round of 69 (-3) on day three.
The German star had one birdie on her front nine before dropping her only shot of the day on 11 and as usual, she finished strongly with birdies on 13, 16 and 18 to join Spitz at the top of the leaderboard.
“My long game especially the shots into the green weren’t like yesterday,” said Försterling. “I had a couple of good ones here and there, and a couple of bad ones.
“My putter wasn’t as hot as yesterday, but overall, I’m really happy. Especially because I finished with a birdie again which was nice, hopefully, it becomes a pattern. No matter what tournament it is, I just try to stay out of trouble as best as I can and avoid high numbers and really be consistent.
“The group was really nice. We had a lot of fun. I don’t think I’ve ever had just a German group. It was great playing with the two of them, I have never played with Sandra before, so that was nice to get to meet her. We really had a lot of fun.”
Off the golf course, Spitz and Försterling are very good friends, and the Berlin native is excited to tee it up alongside her friend in the final round.
The German added: “I’m actually really looking forward to playing with Emma. Every time I have played with her, we just have a lot of fun. I would like for her to play great as much as I do for me.
“It’s really nice to see her on top of the leaderboard and I’m really happy to play with her tomorrow and just have a fun round. I really just want to have a great time at home in front of the home crowd and just have fun.”
Slovenia’s Ana Belac and Germany’s Patricia Isabel Schmidt sit one shot further back in a tie for third place on six-under-par.
Belac carded a round of 68 (-4) which included an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys to move herself into contention.
“It was definitely really fun out there today,” said the Slovenian. “The weather conditions were a little bit better. It was easier to be out there, less exhausting, I was really happy that I could put a good score up there today.
“I don’t think I changed my gameplan much, it was a matter of what number I had to the pin and how comfortable I was with the shot just like any other day. It was definitely a little bit easier, not having to fly it so low all the time and hitting a few more normal shots that I am more comfortable hitting because I play them more often than the ones in 30 mph winds.
“I played all my junior golf in Europe, also quite a bit of golf in Germany. It feels very familiar, but it’s been a long time since I have been here, so it’s been nice to be back and see some familiar stuff.”
Schmidt had a good third round producing a 69 (-3) made from four birdies and only one dropped shot which was a three-putt.
“It was amazing! It was a dream group today,” said the 2023 Belgian Ladies Open winner. “We told each other in scoring that we would take the same group tomorrow again. It was such a relaxing, nice round. It felt like a nice round with friends.
“I went to the range for quite a bit yesterday because I didn’t really like my irons into the green. I feel that really worked out well today, I hit loads of really nice iron shots in there and I had quite a few chances but didn’t really use them except the par-five short ones.
“I will just do the same as today and go out there and enjoy it and have fun and do my best. If I make a putt and a birdie, that’s nice, if I don’t then I’ll still continue and try the rest.”
English duo Eleanor Givens and Bronte Law are in a share of fifth place on five-under-par and it was a great day for Givens who fired a 65 (-7).
Givens explained: “I can’t ask for a better start than that can I? I was six-under through my first seven holes. I’m really pleased, I feel I have been playing quite well in recent weeks and the scores haven’t quite shown it and today a lot of things came together all at one time and there’s the score to show it.
“There is still some wind there, it’s definitely not easy but it’s a lot easier than it was the last two days. I hit it to about a foot on the first hole which got my day off nicely. I felt like I had that score coming and I really enjoyed it.
“I will see how many birdies I can make! It’s as simple as that to try and make as many birdies as I can and stick with what I’m doing, stick with my processes and enjoy what I’m doing.”
Five players are in a tie for seventh place with Finland’s Noora Komulainen, England’s Gabriella Cowley, Ireland’s Lauren Walsh, Spain’s Luna Sobron Galmes and German amateur Helen Briem all on four-under-par.
Cowley fired the round of the day with a 64 (-8) which included six birdies and one eagle, while Walsh had an albatross on her scorecard.
“There was not a lot of wind today, I wouldn’t say it played easier, but it was just not as tough in the wind,” said the Englishwoman. “I have been playing pretty well, I just didn’t hole much the last couple of days and then today I seemed to hole them all.
“My dad said to me today let’s just enjoy it and give ourselves a good chance to try and get back in the tournament. The way I have been playing has been pretty good the whole season, I have just got to keep putting myself in these positions and take advantage of it.
“I have been close a couple of times, I came second in South Africa a couple of weeks ago. I’m working hard, I am doing all the right things. My time will come when it’s the right time. It’s not about putting pressure on it and letting it sort of happen, then it will happen.”