Davies rues cruel luck on greens

On another day of extremely low scoring, Laura Davies failed to make headway on the leaders with a level-par 70 in the third round of the Welsh's/Fry's Championship here in Arizona.

On 11 under par, she was still within sight of the top 10 but had fallen seven behind the leader, Canada's Lorie Kane, who shot a 65 for 18-under 192. Davies' problem was a lack of luck on the greens. She missed several birdie chances before eventually making ground with a chip and putt for four at the long sixth.

But she handed the shot back when she missed the green at the short ninth. "It was a really frustrating day," admitted the winner of last month's ANZ Ladies' Masters in Australia. "I hit the ball well and had lots of chances, but I just couldn't take them. But I've not given up complete hope. There are a some really low scores out there and, hopefully, tomorrow it will be my turn again."

Kane, a four-time Tour winner, had a flawless five-birdie round to edge one ahead of rookie Christina Kim, a Californian who celebrated her birthday in perfect fashion with a best-of-the-day 62.

Meg Mallon, three ahead overnight, was still three in front with six to play, but dropped shots at the 13th, 14th and 16th to slip back into joint third alongside Australia's Wendy Doolan.

WELCH'S/FRY'S CHAMPIONSHIPS (Tucson, Az): Leading third-round scores (US unless stated): 192 L Kane (Can) 61 66 65. 193 C Kim 64 67 62. 194 M Mallon 64 60 70; W Doolan (Aus) 64 60 70. 196 B Burton 66 64 66; G Park (S Kor) 65 63 68; Y Kim (S Kor) 63 64 69. 197 Yu Ping Lin (Tai) 69 64 64; B King 67 65 65. 198 AJ Eathorne (Can) 62 67 69. 199 B Bauer 71 66 62; L Ochoa (Mex) 67 66 66; N Scranton 66 67 66; J Yeon Lee (S Kor) 66 67 66; H Bowie 65 67 67; P Hurst 63 69 67; M Hjorth (Swe) 67 65 67; L Davies (GB) 65 64 70.