Leona Maguire Shoots 63 as Casandra Alexander Keeps Irish Open Lead

Leona Maguire produced a bogey-free, nine-under-par 63 in the third round of the Women's Irish Open on Saturday, climbing into a tie for sixth at the K Club in County Kildare. The round lifted her sharply up the leaderboard. BBC Sport reported that the Irish golfer reached 11 under for the tournament, seven shots behind leader Casandra Alexander with one round remaining.

Watch the highlights:

Maguire made nine birdies across her first 15 holes after opening the event with consecutive rounds of 71. She gained shots at the second, third and fourth holes, then added birdies at the seventh and eighth to complete the outward nine in 31. Four more birdies followed at the 10th, 12th, 14th and 15th.

A chance to improve the round by another stroke narrowly escaped on the 18th, where Maguire's birdie attempt for a 62 lipped out. Her 63 nevertheless matched the lowest score of the day and moved her alongside Finland's Noora Komulainen, who shot 66, on 11 under.

Alexander retained control at the top of the leaderboard with a three-under 69. The South African, who has led since the opening round, moved to 18 under and will begin Sunday's final round three strokes ahead of the Czech Republic's Sara Kouskova. Kouskova carded a 67 to reduce the five-shot deficit she faced after the second round.

Sweden's Kajsa Arwefjaell matched Maguire's 63 and rose to third place at 13 under. Fellow Swedes Corinne Viden and Louise Rydqvist are tied for fourth on 12 under after each recorded a third-round 69. Komulainen and Maguire share sixth, one stroke behind that pair.

Heavy rain interrupted play during the afternoon as water accumulated around the course, but the third round was completed. Among the other Irish players, Anna Foster shot 66 to reach seven under, while Anna Donegan was among those on five under. BBC Sport's leaderboard also placed England's Lily May Humphreys and Hannah Screen at five under heading into Sunday's deciding round.