[Photo: Golf Australia]
Gold Coaster Karis Davidson is within reach of a career-first major championship top 10 after surging up the leaderboard on day three of The Amundi Evian Championship.
With KPMG Women’s PGA champion Haeran Ryu racing to a three-stroke lead courtesy of a record 11-under 60 at Evian Resort Golf Club, Davidson made a run of her own.
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Tied for 46th at the halfway mark, the 28-year-old began her third round from the 10th tee and opened with four straight pars.
Her first birdie of the day came at the par-3 14th, adding a second at the par-3 16th to turn in 2-under and 3-under for the tournament.
She was 5-under two holes later thanks to birdies at the first and second holes, completing a bogey-free 5-under 66 with a final birdie at the par-5 seventh.
That resulted in a 30-spot jump on the leaderboard into a tie for 16th, level with Kiwi great Lydia Ko (69).
It continues an impressive run of performances for Davidson in golf’s showpiece events.
A tie for 22nd at the US Women’s Open was her best result in a major championship to date, a mark she bettered with a tie for 12th at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
A maiden major top 10 is now within reach, Davidson to enter the final round two strokes outside the top 10.
Fellow Queenslander Cassie Porter also made positive progress on Saturday.
Like Davidson, the 23-year-old began her third round from the 10th tee, a run of four straight birdies from the 18th to the third holes the foundation of her round of 3-under 68.
Porter will start the final round in a tie for 33rd, a position that if she can maintain on Sunday would represent her best finish in a major championship.
The final round of The Amundi Evian Championship will be broadcast live from 6pm on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sports.
Round 3 Australasian scores
T16 Karis Davidson 70-71-66—207
T16 Lydia Ko (NZ) 69-69-69—207
T33 Cassie Porter 69-72-68—209
MC Hannah Green 70-73—143
MC Kelsey Bennett 74-70—144
MC Robyn Choi 73-71—144
MC Grace Kim 73-72—145
MC Minjee Lee 77-77—154
MC Gabriela Ruffels 78-77—155
Round 4 tee times AEST
4:40pm* Cassie Porter
5:16pm Lydia Ko (NZ)
5:40pm Karis Davidson
