Nice shot: Aretha Pan takes a shot at the fifth hole during the third round of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Saturday. — Bernama

AMATEUR Aretha Pan maintained her position as the best local performer despite returning the worse round over three days yesterday in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.

In the first two rounds she carded identical two-over 73s. But the third round saw her finish with a four-over 75 for a three-day total of 221 to be placed in tied 56th position.

Aretha said that it was a terrible round and she just could not get her game going after rain interrupted play in the morning.

She started off on the back nine and hit a birdie on the 10th hole. A bogey on the next hole evened it up but after a birdie on the 15th, play was suspended.

The round was only restarted at 2.30pm. And that was when she ran into trouble. A double bogey on the 17th and a bogey in the 18th saw her ending the back nine two-over.

There was no improvement on the front nine as she had a birdie in the first hole but bogeyed the second, third an fifth hole for a four-over 75 score.

“I was hitting the ball all over the place, into the trees, rough and was not able to play my normal game. So it is not surprising that the score was worse than the previous two days. Sure the interruption did affect me but then all the players were in the same situation. With one more round to go I just want to get a better score and try to get my game back on the right footing,” said Aretha.

The next best Malaysian was Jean Chua who finished with a total of 227 in joint 63rd position.

But her story was not that different from Aretha’s as she scored eight-over 79 for her third round score. She had scored 75 and 73 in the previous rounds and was hoping to improve on it.

But far from it she allowed the pressure to get to her and admitted that playing at home is the toughest ever.

“The day I learn to play well in front of the home crowd is the day I will start winning,” she said.

“I had played in the US open and did not feel this kind of pressure at all. Here, somehow, the pressure to do well in front of your fans is great and I keep thinking I want to show them that their faith in me is justified.

“I thank them all for the support and encouragement. There is one more round and I hope it will be better. I am trying so hard and maybe that is the problem,” she added.

She too started out on the back nine and bogeys on the 10th and 11th holes gave the indication that it would be a tough day ahead.

Then on the 13th hole a triple bogey left her five shots off the pace.

A birdie on the 14th but bogey in the 16th and a double bogey in the 18th saw her finish the back nine seven shots behind.

The front nine was much better with just a bogey on the first hole followed by par golf all the way. Her total was 14-over 227.

“This is the first time I have shot double digit figure for a three-day total. It is just terrible,” said Jean.

Ainil Johani shot the lowest Malaysian score yesterday – a three-over 74 – to tie with Jean at the 63rd place.

It was a much improved showing from Ainil who had a double bogey on the eighth hole followed by bogeys on the second, fifth, 11th and 12th holes.

But birdies in the third and sixth and 15th holes helped to keep the score down.

Malaysia’s 16-year-old Sarfina Vinotha returned a 10-over 81 score for 68th position yesterday.

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