In-Kyung Kim shot a six under par 66 to hold a one shot lead ahead of the final round of the AIB Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle on 9 under. The 22-year-old South Korean carded eight birdies and two bogeys in her second round and the two-time winner on the LPGA was out in 33 and back in the same number of shots.
Six Scandinavian players are in the chasing pack, led by Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, ranked ninth in the world, fellow Swede Linda Wessberg and Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord, all on seven under.
Nordqvist, the 2009 Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year on the Ladies European Tour who won the LPGA Championship last year, shot 67 in a round that included six birdies and one bogey.
Wessberg, a three-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, had seven birdies in a 66, while Skarpnord, twice a winner on the LET last year, was out in 36 and scored an inward total of 30, with six birdies on the back nine.
Pernilla Lindberg is the fourth Swede on the leader board in fifth place on seven under par after a bogey-free 66.
Three-time Irish Open champion Sophie Gustafson and overnight leader Maria Hjorth complete the Nordic sextuplet in a share of sixth place, three shots behind the leader.
Rebecca Coakley leads the Irish challenge after a round of 72 left her at one under par, while all three Irish amateurs made the cut.
Leona Maguire was at level par after a 72, while Lisa was on two under par after a 74 and Danielle McVeigh was a stroke behind after a 73.
Fellow Team Ireland players Hazel Kavanagh, Tara Delany and Claire Coghlan Ryan all miss the cut at the AIB Irish Ladies on Saturday.
Kavanagh carded a second round 76 and remained 13 over par following the first day score of 81.
Tara Delaney signed for an 82 on Saturday after an opening round of 77 to remain 15 over.
Claire Coughlan Ryan in her first competitive outing for some months matched the opening round of 82 with a second round 84 to finish on +22.
Others to miss the cut include last year's first round leader, Federica Piovano of Italy; the winner of the Tenerife Ladies Open, Trish Johnson of England and last year’s winner of the AIB Irish Ladies Open, Italy’s Diana Luna.
