South African Women's Open: Leigh Whittaker leads after Charley Hull penalty

Leigh Whittaker fired a career and tournament low round of five-under-par 67 to take a one stroke lead into the final day of the South African Women’s Open.

On the first full day of clear weather in this 54-hole tournament, the 26-year-old from Baden-Baden in south western Germany took advantage of the favourable afternoon conditions to post a two-round total of four-under-par 140 at San Lameer Country Club.

She is one stroke clear of England’s Holly Clyburn and Germany’s Ann-Kathrin Lindner.

England’s Charley Hull was the best of the players on the other side of the draw and she ended the day in a share of fourth position with Fabienne In-Albon of Switzerland.

Overnight leader Hull would have been tied for the lead but she was given a two-stroke penalty that saw her finish the day on two under and with a 74.

Hull’s putter slipped out of her hand on the par-three 16th green, moving her golf ball.

That was already a one-stroke penalty, but Hull played the ball from its new position and that earned her a two-stroke penalty.

“It’s disappointing, but that’s golf I suppose,” said Hull who responded to her penalty with birdies at 17 and 18.

“I’m not too fazed by it because I can’t do too much about. I think I played pretty well out there overall. On the final day I can still make plenty of birdies, so I’ll be fine.”

A trio of French players lie in a share of sixth place on one under par, Gwladys Nocera, Valentine Derrey and Sophie Giquel-Bettan. 

Lee-Anne Pace is the leading South African four strokes off the lead on level par alongside Sweden’s Julia Davidsson and German Nina Holleder.