Holland's Schreefel sets alight Dubai Ladies Masters

Dewi Claire Schreefel blasted a new tournament record 63 on Friday but fail to threaten runaway leader Shanshan Feng on day three of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at the Majlis course of Emirates Golf Club.

The Ladies European Tour event is being held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The 27-year-old from Alkmaar in Netherlands, starting the day a good nine shots off the pace, set the tone for a stunning charge up the leaderboard with a birdie on the first and kept swinging to finish with four birdies in a row.

With this bogey-free 63, which eclipsed the previous tournament record of 64 held by Sweden’s Louise Stahle since 2007, Schreefel has jumped to second place at 13-under, still five shots behind Feng, who carded a third-round 67.

France’s Gwladys Nocera, who shot a 68 for the third time in a row, was a further one shot back at 12-under, one ahead of Germany’s Caroline Masson and Cindy Lacrosse of the US.

Feng may be having a stranglehold on the tournament, but Schreefel produced a round to remember. 

“I played really solid, tee-to-green, and it was my best round ever. Obviously, I am delighted with my efforts,” Schreefel, who turned professional in 2008.

“I hit a few more greens and made the up-and-downs that I needed to. I only had 26 putts which was good,” said the Dutch professional, who finished tied for fourth place in the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament in December 2010 to earn full playing status on the LPGA for 2011.

“Rounds like this one comes along once a while, but I am feeling quite comfortable with my game. I think another under par round is definitely possible,” said Schreefel who up picked up four shots on the front nine and five on the back.

China’s Feng mixed seven birdies with two bogeys in her 67 and comfortably kept up her dominance in the tournament, promoted and organised by ‘golf in Dubai’.

“I am playing very well. The confidence is there and I do hope to finish strongly. I don’t think I will have any new game plan for the final round. I will just try and stick to what I am doing,” said Feng, the only player from mainland China to win on the LPGA Tour.

“I think the highlight my round (on Friday) was those three birdies in a row on the last three holes. You know I never look at the scoreboard and hence the thought of breaking the tournament record never crossed my mind,” said the 23-year-old LPGA star.

Meanwhile, seasoned Laura Davies, who is also a ‘golf in Dubai’ ambassador, made her presence felt with a 66 to keep alive her hopes of raking in a top-five finish.

“I played much better and hit more fairways which was good. I will have to go low again in the final round. I will try and see what happens. It will be an all-out attack again like it was today,” said Davies, who is now eight under for the tournament.

“Winning the tournament is slightly out of my mind at the moment purely because I’m so far back,” said the most decorated English golfer.

Indeed, the chasing pack will have to produce something special if they aim to track down Feng on Sunday.

Scores at the end of round three:

198 - Shanshan Feng (CHN)  66 65 67

203 - Dewi Claire Schreefel (NLD)  69 71 63

204 - Gwladys Nocera (FRA)  68 68 68

205 - Cindy Lacrosse (USA)  67 69 69, Caroline Masson (DEU)  68 68 69

206 - Lorie Kane (CAN)  68 70 68

207 - Caroline Hedwall (SWE)  69 71 67, Felicity Johnson (ENG)  68 67 72

208 - Laura Davies (ENG)  71 71 66, Holly Aitchison (ENG)  70 72 66, Joanna Klatten (FRA)  71 65 72

209 - Nontaya Srisawang (THA)  68 73 68, Diana Luna (ITA)  70 71 68, Julieta Granada (PAR)  70 70 69, Florentyna Parker (ENG)  66 74 69, Line Vedel (DNK)  69 72 68, Lexi Thompson (USA)  69 68 72, Klara Spilkova (CZE)  67 73 69

210 - Bree Arthur (AUS)  69 70 71

211 - Lydia Hall (WAL)  68 71 72, Carlota Ciganda (ESP)  70 68 73, Stefania Croce (ITA)  69 74 68, Veronica Zorzi (ITA)  71 73 67, Kristie Smith (AUS)  70 72 69, Becky Brewerton (WAL)  70 73 68, Hannah Jun (USA)  71 72 68

212 - Trish Johnson (ENG)  70 71 71, Beth Allen (USA)  70 70 72, Stacy Lee Bregman (ZAF)  69 72 71, Sahra Hassan (WAL)  67 76 69

213 - Linda Wessberg (SWE)  70 70 73, Michelle Wie (USA)  70 73 70, Sarah Kemp (AUS)  69 72 72, Elizabeth Bennett (ENG)  69 73 71, Yu Yang Zhang (CHN)  69 74 70, Stacey Keating (AUS)  72 70 71, Virginie Lagoutte-clement (FRA)  72 71 70, Diana D Alessio (USA)  73 70 70

214 - Tandi Cuningham (ZAF)  72 69 73, Pernilla Lindberg (SWE)  74 70 70, Jennie Lee (USA)  70 69 75, Becky Morgan (WAL)  69 75 70, Ashleigh Simon (ZAF)  68 74 72, Caroline Afonso (FRA)  74 70 70

215 - Valentine Derrey (FRA)  69 74 72, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA)  70 73 72

216 - Malene Jorgensen (DNK)  70 74 72, Julie Greciet (FRA)  72 71 73, Nikki Garrett (AUS)  70 73 73

217 - Danielle Montgomery (ENG)  71 72 74, Chrisje De Vries (NLD)  71 74 72, Hee-Kyung Seo (KOR)  74 70 73, Maria Verchenova (RUS)  71 71 75, Carly Booth (SCO)  78 67 72, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA)  68 73 76

218 - Charlotte Ellis (ENG)  70 73 75, Lucie Andre (FRA)  76 69 73, Stephanie Na (AUS)  71 74 73

220 - Sophie Sandolo (ITA)  71 73 76, Sophie Walker (ENG)  74 71 75

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