Ashok Shoots 62 To Get Within One Of Lead

Aditi Ashok from India shot a third round 62 at the LET Lalla Aicha Tour School Final Qualifier on Sunday to set a new women’s course record in Morocco.

The 17-year-old amateur from Bangalore fired 11 birdies and one bogey on her last hole to finish the day at 17 under par, a single stroke behind the leader Karolin Lampert from Germany, who shot a 66 at Samanah.

Ashok’s 62 equalled the men’s course record and was just a stroke shy of matching the Ladies European Tour’s all-time record of 11 under par for 18 holes, held by six players. However, with seven birdies on the front nine, she went out in 29 and joined 36 others who hold the record for the lowest nine holes.

“This is my best score ever. I’ve shot eight under twice so this was really good,” said Ashok, the world’s 13th ranked amateur, from Bangalore Golf Club.

“I started with three birdies, which was a good sign and then I made a par and three more birdies. A couple of those, five and six, were shorter putts, within five feet. The ninth was within a foot. I would say my putting was really good on the front nine and I holed a lot of 10 footers, like on the first, second and third, which helped with the momentum.''

“I actually didn’t want a five on my scorecard, which is why I was so happy when I birdied 16, because that was a four. Then I made a five on 18, so that was a little irritating, but 16 was important and after 16 I wanted to par 17 and 18, but I hit a really good shot on 17 and got a birdie, so that was good.”

Scots Kelsey Macdonald and Gemma Dryburgh, are lying fifth and joint 10th respectively, are expected to coast through among the leading 60 players and ties when the cut is made after Monday's fourth and penultimate round. Wentworth's Annabel Dimmock is lying alongside Dryburgh in 10th position after a level par 72. 

The field of 115 players from 35 countries is split over two courses for the first four rounds and Justine Dreher of France leads field B, in third position on 13 under par overall.

In field A, Ashok will play her fourth round of the five-round qualifier at nearby Amelkis Golf Club on Monday, grouped with Lampert and Daisy Nielsen of Denmark, who is in fourth position at 11 under par.

After the fourth round, there will be a cut to the leading 60 players and ties and the top 30 players and ties after Tuesday’s final round at Samanah Golf Club will earn LET Membership in Category 8, known familiarly as earning a ‘full tour card.’