Sweden 's Sophie Gustafson posted a flawless seven-under-par 65 to grab a five stroke lead after the third round of the Siemens Ladies Golf Open at Golfclub Föhrenwald in Wiener Neustadt, Austria .
After leading by three shots overnight, the 32-year-old from Saro forged further ahead to finish on 16-under-par 200 ahead of Australia's Anne-Marie Knight, who fired a personal best of nine-under-par 63. Knight carded nine birdies including six on the front nine.
Laura Davies, the leader of the New Star Money List, remained well in contention after a 66 and tied for third with fellow Englishwoman Lisa Hall, who had a 68.
Gustafson, a five-time Solheim Cup player, was five-under on the front nine and two-under on the back nine.
“I played the front nine really well and then it was a little average on the back nine,” Gustafson said. “But it was a good score and I'm happy with the way I did it.”
Gustafson began the day with a three stroke lead over Hall but quickly moved further ahead with a birdie at the first hole. She fired a string a four birdies in a row from the par-three sixth hole and had established a seven stroke lead by the turn with a 14-under-par total.
After Australia 's Knight, playing eight groups behind the leader, signed for her 63, Gustafson carded two further birdies at holes 12 and 18, missing a ten foot eagle chance at the last hole by a whisker.
The Swede went bogey-free for 29 holes with her last mistake of the week a double bogey at the seventh hole in her second round.
“I'm just going to go out there and try to play the best golf I can tomorrow because there's obviously a lot of low scores out there so I have to keep it up,” said Gustafson, who has won 20 tournaments worldwide in a 12-year career.
The last of her wins came at the 2003 Samsung World Championship, in the year she won three tournaments on the Ladies European Tour as well as the order of merit. She admitted that it felt like a long time ago and was eager to grab another title.
Gustafson's closest challenger in the final round is Knight, 36, whose sole win was at the 1999 Ladies' German Open. Knight had just 23 putts today and she said: “I don't think I've ever had that few putts in my life!”
She bettered her previous best round by a stroke and added: “Today was so quiet and peaceful out there, you couldn't hear a pin drop. The greens were softer out there after the rain and there were very scoreable conditions.
“It came very easily and I kept my thoughts at bay until the 16 th hole; that was the first time I thought about my score and I didn't play so well after that.
“I think if I have another good round tomorrow I could be in with a chance but I have a feeling that Sophie is going to have another good round. Although I've got nothing to lose and she's the one who will have all the pressure.”
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