EMILY PEDERSEN ON COURSE TO WIN THE SPANISH OPEN

Race to Costa de Sol winner, Emily Pedersen is on course to win her third consecutive Ladies European Tour (LET) title.

Denmark’s Emily Pedersen closed with a sensational eagle at the 54th hole to post a bogey-free four-under-par 68 to leapfrog Spain’s Nuria Iturrioz and assume a one-shot lead at the Andalucía Costa Del Sol Open De Espana.

Joining the pair in the final group and occupying solo third spot on -6 after a five-under-par third round of 67 is Morocco’s Maha Haddioui. Looking to make history of her own as the first Arabic winner on Tour, the 31-year-old, who is competing in her eighth season on Tour.

Scotland's Kelsey MacDonald is still on course for a second top-10 finish in her last four events on the Ladies European Tour. The Scot is lying fifth after a one-over-par third round of 73. MacDonald will tee off on Sunday alongside Luna Sobron Galmes (ESP) on -5 and Manon Gidali (FRA) on -3.

The only amateur to make the cut is local star Ana Pelaez, who impressed with a four-under-par 68 to move into a share of seventh on -2 alongside her Spanish idol Azahara Munoz and Finland’s Sanna Nuutinen.

After three rounds, only 14 players are under-par for the tournament heading into the final day, with England's Annabel Dimmock carding a joint-low round-of-the-day 67 to join compatriot Meghan MacLaren and Scotland's Kylie Henry in the group tied for 10th on -1.

Laura Murray (SCO) is tied for 24th on +3 after a two-under-par round of 70, while Alison Muirhead (SCO) is tied for 51st on +7.