Hannah Turland chips dead for a birdie 4 at the 18th in her third round at Royal Aberdeen today. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency. Click to enlarge the image

NO NERVES AS 15-YEAR-OLD HANNAH EXTENDS BALGOWNIE LEAD TO FOUR Wiltshire 15-year-old Hannah Turland, the surprise halfway leader by three shots, showed not the slightest sign of nerves as she increased her lead to four at the end of the third round of the British women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Royal Aberdeen today. On the nicest day of the week so far - blue skies, sunshine and only a suggestion of a wind, Hannah returned a one-over-par 73 for a 54-hole tally of eight-over-par 224. Welsh open stroke-play champion Danielle McVeigh (Royal County Down), her nearest rival overnight and playing partner for the final two rounds, had a 74 to slip a shot further in arrears at 228. "I'm doing OK," said Hannah when asked how she felt as she headed for the clubhouse for a quick bite before being back on the first tee for a 3pm start to her fourth and final round. "I'm enjoying it, especially as the weather is a lot nicer." No nerves there than as the 15-year-old Wiltshire women's county champion and daughter of a Tidworth publican heads for a place in the golfing record books as one of the youngest ever British champions - outwith girls' tournaments - in Ladies Golf Union history. Europe No 1 Lucie Andre from France and Manchester's Rachel Connor took up joint third place on 231 on the best day of the week weatherwise so far - sunny and with just a gentle breeze in comparison to the gales of the first two days. Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and France's Marion Duverney both returned one-under-par 71s - the best of the championship so far. Defending champion Roseanne Niven (Crieff), who will be returning to the guaranteed nice weather of California shortly as a student at the University of California-Berkeley, had the misfortune to be bitten by a wasp under her left arm on the 17th tee. She carried on to return a third-round 80 and a tally of 243. Rhian Wyn Thomas from the Vale of Glamorgan had a nose bleed down the 18th as she completed a third-round 78 for 238. Welsh champion Tara Davies (Holyhead) withdrew with toothache before the start of the third roundl. THIRD-ROUND TOTALS Par 216 (3x72) 224 Hannah Turland (Tidworth) 79 72 73. 228 Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down) 75 79 74. 231 Lucie Andre (France) 73 81 77, Rachel Connor (Manchester) 80 79 72. 232 Sian James (Bristol & Clifton) 80 78 74. 233 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 83 79 71. 234 Laura Murray (Alford) 79 76 79, Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 78 77 79, Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 79 80 75, Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 85 77 72. 235 Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) 79 83 73. 236 Lucie Williams (Mid Herts) 81 76 79, Ciara Butler (Newlands, Dublin) 78 80 78, Carly Booth (Comrie) 82 76 78. 237 Marion Duverney (France) 86 80 71, Charlotte Wild (Mere) 79 77 81, Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 85 77 75. 238 Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies) 79 85 74, Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) 85 79 74, Rhian Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 80 80 78, Chrisje De Vries (Netherlands) 84 76 78. 239 Amy Boulden (Maesdu) 79 87 73, Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) 76 90 73. 240 Nicola Rawlinson (Leyland) 76 89 75, Rachel Drummond (Beaconsfield) 87 77 76. 241 Hannah Ralph (Cowdray Park) 79 86 76, Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 81 80 80, Caroline Karsten (Netherlands) 76 87 78. 242 Margarita Ramos (Mexico) 87 78 77, Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 81 84 77.. 243 Katherine O'Connor (Tadmarton) 81 84 78, Isabelle Boineau (France) 79 86 78, Marion Ricordeau (France) 85 77 81, Roseanne Niven (Crieff) 81 82 80... 244 Laura Collin (John O'Gaunt) 84 81 79. 245 Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 81 85 79, Nikki Foster (Pleasington) 77 88 80, Myrte Eikenaar (Netherlands) 82 79 84. 246 Eleana Collins (US) 80 84 82. 247 Natalie Lowe (Macclesfield) 82 83 82, Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge, Ireland) 79 81 87. 249 Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) 80 86 83. 251 Maaike Naafs (Netherlands) 78 87 86. Retired: Tara Davies (Holyhead) 85 81 Ret.