Cecilia Ekelundh leads by two at Nykredit Masters

Sweden 's Cecilia Ekelundh fired a three under par 69 to hold a two shot lead heading into the final round of the Nykredit Masters in Denmark .

Ekelundh finished at ten under par ahead of Denmark 's Iben Tinning, who had a 70 to sit at eight under par after 54 holes.

Amanda Moltke Leth, also from Denmark , fired a one under par 71 to finish at seven under par and trails the lead by three shots.

With two Danes and a Swede drawn together in the final group tomorrow, it looks to be a Scandinavian battle.  

Sweden 's Johanna Waldh fired at one under par 71 to finish tied at seven under par with Moltke Leth and England 's Lora Fairclough, the first and second round leader. Fairclough, from Lancashire , dropped back after a two over par 74 in the third round which included two bogeys and a costly double at the par-four fifth hole.

Fairclough quipped: "I think I'm going to go out a buy a new putter before tomorrow."

Ekelundh, the 2005 Algarve Ladies Open of Portugal Champion, began with a bogey at the par-four first hole, but picked up four birdies at the sixth, 10 th , 12 th and 15 th holes.

"I've never been as unlucky as I was on number one. I hit the ball five metres from the centre of the fairway and it bounced dead left into the bunker so I had no shot at the green," she said.

Ekelundh lives just two hours from Kokkedal GC, and is hoping for a strong Swedish turn out tomorrow.

"It's nice to be almost at home. I'll be by myself in the last group tomorrow so I'm hoping for more Swedes to come over from my golf club, (Solvesborgs).

"I don't think I've ever been in the lead by myself going into the last day before but I know I can win so I don't have to doubt myself. I just hope I get off to a good start tomorrow.

She added: "I don't mind the crowd rooting for Iben as they would have done the same for me in Sweden ."

A gallery of around 600 spectators followed the penultimate group today, with loud whoops and cheers following the moves of Danish players Molke Leth and Tinning.

Tinning said: "It was a mixed bag today. I started very well and then I fell apart in the middle of the round but had an excellent finish."

The two-time Solheim Cup player, who will head the USA immediately after her final round tomorrow for her third appearance in The Solheim Cup at Crooked Stick GC, Indiana, birdied the par-5 fourth hole and made an eagle three at the sixth when she holed her greenside bunker shot.

A further birdie at the par-4 seventh was followed by her first dropped shot at the ninth. Then when a wayward drive hit a fence at the par-five tenth she had to take a drop, resulting in a double.

Another mistake at the 12 th was followed by two birdies at the 15 th and 18 th holes, with a grandstand finish before the home fans.

"It was perfect for me with all the spectators. They cheered and clapped all the way around," she said.

With the final sprint for points in the "Volvo Cross Country Challenge" ending tomorrow, the crowds will also be hoping for a Nordic winner of that title.

Ekelundh needs a top three finish to win the $US25,000 cheque and car courtesy of Volvo Cars Nordic. Tinning needs to win to claim the VXCC crown.

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