Leona Maguire's charge at the Saudi Ladies International stalled on Saturday, as a third-round two-over-par 74 saw her slip down the leaderboard in Riyadh.
A sensational 64 blasted the Cavan woman into contention yesterday, but she could not repeat such high scoring as Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit moved three shots clear of the chasing pack.
Maguire looked like she was in the mood to seriously get herself in contention when she birdied the par-five second, but her momentum disintegrated as a string of pars were blotted by bogeys on the seventh, 13th and 14th holes.
She sits on two-under overall, nine behind Tavatanakit, who carded a three-under 69 on Saturday.
German Esther Henseleit is second on eight-under, one ahead of the Dane Emily Kristine Pedersen and Englishwoman Charley Hull.
"Overall, I was pleased with the mentality out there," said Tavatanakit. "I feel like I had a really good mindset with how the round started.
"I think tomorrow, all I want to do is make the right choices each and every shot, and whatever it is that I’m going to face, I’m up for it. I know it’s not going to be easy. Just making the right choices and commit to my processes is something I’m going to do."
