Lilia Vu (US) eagled the home hole for a third round 65 to lead by one shot in the 72 hole $5 million ARAMCO Saudi Ladies International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on the Ladies European Tour.

25 year-old Vu, who turned professional in 2019 following a stellar Amateur career including being part of the winning US team in the Espirito Santo Trophy in 2018, has won three times on the Symetra Tour, the LPGA Development Tour.

The current 39th player in the Women’s World Rankings started the round two shots back of round two leader Aditi Ashok (Ind).

Nines of 32 and 33 gives Vu a one shot lead going into tomorrow’s (Sunday) final round.

The weather was at it kindest of the tournament to date, with modest winds resulting in a day of impressive scoring.

In second place is World Number One Lydia Ko (NZ) who shot a six birdie 66 and led Vu by one shot going up the 54th hole, but had to settle for a par five.

Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen, a previous winner over the European Golf Design layout at King Abdullah Economic City continued her fine form in Saudi with a round of 65 to be one back of Ko.

Dubai based 16 year-old Chiara Noja (Ger) carded a seven birdie – no bogey round of 65, with nines of 31 and 34, to move up from tied 29th to tied 11th.

Second round leader Aditi Ashok (Ind) shot her third successive round in the 60’s, a 69 to join Pedersen in tied third.

Lexi Thompson (US) matched the course record with a round of 63 to be solo fifth on 13 under par.

Defending champion Georgia Hall (Eng) shot a third round 67, with only two bogeys notched up in her 54 holes to date to be in tied sixth place.

Tomorrow (Sunday) sees the top players chasing the $750,000 first prize along with points for the LET Rankings, World Rankings as well as for 2023 Solheim Cup Qualification for the European players.

The final round sees play in three balls with the leaders out last at 10.45 am with Noja teeing off at 10.15 am in Match 18 of 21.