Caroline Masson takes two-shot lead into final day of Ladies European Masters

Caroline Masson further enhanced her chances of a home Solheim Cup appearance as she opened up a two-shot lead after the third round of the ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters.

The German fired a composed five-under 67 for the second day running at the Buckinghamshire Golf Club to hit the top of the leaderboard on 12 under as English challengers Charley Hull and Alex Peters both imploded on the third day.

Masson, one of the stars of the historic Solheim Cup victory in the United States two years ago, is currently struggling to make this years team on merit, but she will have impressed European captain Carin Koch this week as the Swede contemplates her four wildcard selections.

After starting the day four shots off the lead, Masson birdied the first and picked up three shots in four holes from the fourth before hitting back from only her third bogey of the tournament at the eighth with another birdie at nine to turn in 32.

Masson's putting was a little erratic on the inward half as further birdie chances went begging, but she did get a putt to drop at the 15th before parring safely in to ensure a two-stroke advantage over Thai pair Titiya Plucksataporn and Nontaya Srisawang.

"Of course I want to make the Solheim Cup team and it’s a great chance for me to present myself. Obviously on a course that I really like and I’ve had two really good finishes here in the last two years,” said Masson, who finished third in 2013 and tied for third in 2014.

Super happy

"I’ve been playing well and I haven’t been scoring well but I’ve managed to turn it around in the last few days and I’m super happy about that."

Plucksataporn was one under for the day at the turn, but she hit form on the back nine with birdies at 10, 11 and 15 before another at the last capped a bogey-free 67.

She was joined on 10 under by compatriot Srisawang, who had a mixed-bag of a 69 which featured an eagle at 14, four birdies and three dropped shots.

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Australian Rebecca Artis fired seven birdies in a day's best 66 to move to eight under, where she was later joined Leona Maguire after the impressive young Irish amateur returned a four-birdie 69.

Peters, who scorched to an amazing course-record 63 on Friday, remains the leading home contender on six under despite struggling to a 77, with bogeys at three of the first four holes before double-bogeys at 15 and 18 left her six behind Masson.

Hull's challenge nosedived after she also ran up a 77, making four bogeys in five holes on the front nine before responding with three consecutive birdies, only to undo her fine recovery work by dropping six shots in a torrid five-hole stretch from the 12th.