Bogey-free round for Ashok takes her closer to Magical Kenya Ladies Open title

India’s Aditi Ashok has opened a six-stroke lead at the top of the 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open leaderboard, heading into the final round on Sunday 5 February 2023 at the PGA Baobab Course, Vipingo Ridge.

Aditi, who has led throughout this tournament, returned a bogey-free score of 4-under par, 69, the best of the round, taking her gross to an impressive 13-under, six ahead of second-placed April Angurasaranee of Thailand.

The leader started her round in steady fashion, holding par through the opening four holes before back-to-back birdies on the par four 5th hole and par five 6th.

She hit a further birdie on the 8th to take her score to 2-under par at the turn.

Aditi played cautiously through the back nine, with a single birdie on the 11th, for that 4-under par score.

"I started out facing bogies in the first couple of holes, but I steadied through and am happy with the bogey-free round.

I have never played with such a lead. I am trying not to think about it too much, I am setting small goals for each hole or six or every nine.

Bogey free has been a goal I have had for some time and I am happy that I achieved it. Hopefully I will do more of the same tomorrow,' she offered after the round.

Second placed Angurasaranee shot two eagle threes, at the 11th and 15th, two bogeys and a birdie to return a round’s score of 3-under par, 70.

She sits three strokes ahead of England’s Cara Gainer. Gabriela Ruffels (-3), Alice Hewson (-2), Gurleen Kaur (-1), Esther Henseleit (-1), Noora Komulainen (par), Kylie Henry (par) and Amalie Leth-Nissen (Par) wrap up the top 10.

Kenya’s Naomi Wafula played a round of 5-over-par, 78, to take her total to 14 over par, placing her at T55.

A triple bogey at the tricky par-4 3rd and a double bogey at the 11th dented what was a good round for Naomi, which featured four birdies.

Hole-in-one winner Peterson, fetted

"It was a good round today, apart from two holes that let me down, but overall I am okay with the round. We are working on my putting as I currently have an open club face, which saw me hit a three-putt at hole seventeen.

I had a lot of support today, I am grateful for all the support and everybody who followed me today," Wafula said.

The last round of action tees off on Sunday at 9:45 AM, with the players out to take home their piece of the 300,000 Euros prize fund.