Just 18 holes stand between Stephanie Meadow and a historic victory on home soil at the ISPS Handa World Invitational Men | Women, Presented by Modest! Golf Management, while Damien Perrier and Todd Clements share the lead in the men’s tournament.
With both the men’s and women’s fields poised for an exciting final day in Northern Ireland, we take a look at all you need to know as the innovative event draws to a close.
Need to know
Ahead of the final day the field was again reduced, this time the top 37 players from the men’s field and 40 competitors from the women’s section of the draw progressed to the final round. Among the notables who were unable to make the second cut include Lisa Maguire, the twin of Leona who sits in a tie for third, and 16-year-old amateur Josh Hill who impressed with his gutsy play over the opening two days.
There’s set to be plenty of sibling rivalry on day four, with the personal battle between the brother and sister pairing Moritz and Karolin Lampert ignited on Saturday by a spectacular third round of 66 by the German European Challenge Tour player. With his sister sitting just inside the top ten, in a tie for eighth and Moritz beginning the day at five under par, just four shots off the lead, both will be looking to climb into contention on what is set to be an enthralling final day.
Perrier and Clements will begin the day with a narrow one-shot advantage over the chasing pairing of Francesco Laporta and Jack Senior. Should Clements seal the trophy it would be the 22-year-old’s maiden win on the Challenge Tour, while the Frenchman will be looking to secure his first win on the circuit since 2016 at the D+D REAL Czech Challenge.
Crunching the numbers
*2- *The number of champions who will be crowned at Galgorm Castle today. With the final men’s group of Perrier, Senior and Clements set to get day four under way at 10:10, just ten minutes ahead of the leading women’s group, the two winners could clinch the title just moments from each other.
1- Overnight leader Meadow has one professional victory to her name, at the Symetra Tour’s 2018 IOA Championship, as she went on to secure her LPGA Tour playing rights for the 2019 season. She will begin the final round with a four-shot advantage over her closest challenger, Ellie Givens.
*4- *The number of amateurs who made the second cut following the completion of play on Saturday. Irish international Lauren Walsh continued her impressive form on day three as she eyes a top ten finish, while the 2018 Welsh Ladies Amateur Champion Lee Ann Bramwell jumped up the leaderboard on Saturday with a three under par round of 70. England’s Georgina Blackman will also tee up on Sunday, while South African Jayden Trey Schaper was the only amateur to make it through on the men’s side of the draw.
*9- *The number of birdies carded by Charley Hull, despite hitting only ten greens throughout her third round. With a five under par 68 on Saturday she catapulted up the leaderboard and the highest ranked player in either field will begin her final round in a tie for third.
*4- *Calum Hill, who won his maiden Challenge Tour title at Galgorm Castle last year, will begin the day four shots behind the leading pairing. Should he capture his third victory of the season today in Ballymena, he would secure his promotion onto the European Tour.
