Annabel Wilson leads Irish in South American Amateur
Annabel Wilson (Ireland) driving at the 1st tee in the final round of the 2018 World Amateur Team Championship (Esprito Santo Trophy) at Carton House (01/09/2018). Picture by Pat Cashman
Lurgan's Annabel Wilson is tied for 14th heading into Sunday's final round of the South American Amateur Championship in Chile.
The UCLA-bound star (17) signed for a three-over 75 on day three at Los Leones in Santiago to lie just two strokes outside the top 10 but trail Paraguay's María Fernanda Escauriza by 14 shots on six-over par.
Escauriza added a 68 to rounds of 69 and 71 to lead by four strokes on eight under par from Chile's Antonia Matte.
Lisburn's Paula Grant made a big move up the leaderboard, rising 35 places to tied 19th on seven-over, a shot behind Wilson, after she finished with three birdies in her last fives holes for an excellent, three-under 69.
In the men's event, Douglas' Peter O'Keeffe leapt 23 spots to tied 22nd on two-over par after carding a level par 72 in round three.
The world No 47 was two-over for the day with three holes to play but birdied the 16th and 18th to move within nine shots of Costa Rica's world number 50 Luis Gagne, who shot a 69 to lead by one stroke from England's Thomas Plumb and Colombia's IIván Camilo Ramírez on seven-under.
Gagne is well-versed in producing big performances in big events having claimed the leading amateur prize in last year's US Open at Shinnecock Hills, finishing tied for 48th.
First-round leader Mateo Fernández de Oliveira from Argentina shot a 73 to drop back to tied fourth with Chile's Jan Hellema on five-under.
Galway and Maynooth University’s Ronan Mullarney withdrew with illness after the first round.
