UAE resident Natalii Gupta soared up the leaderboard on day three of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship, after posting a second consecutive three under par 69 to move up to a share of 16th at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Gupta, a member of Trump International Golf Club, Dubai, opened up with a front nine of one over par 37, but responded with a brilliant back nine of 32, which included birdies on her final three holes, to reach four under after 54 holes.
“Natalii has played another exceptional round of golf over the National Course,” said April Varney, UAE National EGF Women’s Golf Coach. “To shoot another 69 in this company is tremendous golf. The whole UAE team watched her and we will be encouraging her the same way tomorrow for her final round.”
19-year-old Natthakritta Vongtaveelap remains on course for a wire-to-wire victory after shooting a third round 67, following rounds of 66 and 68, to top the leaderboard on 15 under par.
A brilliant birdie - eagle finish saw her establish a three shot margin from playing partner Mizuki Hashimoto, who could only finish with two pars.
With the final round tomorrow, Vongtaveelap is the one to catch, but the battle for second place could be the one to watch with seven players all within three shots of Hashimoto.
The winner of the 2021 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship earns invitations to play in two major championships; The AIG Women’s Open and The Amundi Evian Championship, the Hana Financial Group Championship as well as an exemption for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
