Tristan Jones
Maria Fassi launches her tee shot on the 18th  

By Kent Gray
Maria Fassi is glad she still has a “target on her back” but isn’t half as relieved as Jessica Karlsson who is starting to believe she won’t have to rush back to school teaching anytime soon.

The Mexican LPGA Tour player and the sometimes math and science teacher from Sweden will begin the final round of the 15th Dubai Moonlight Classic presented by EGA in joint pole-position on Friday, albeit with their noses just ahead of a tightly bunched grid all plotting early overtaking manoeuvres.

Thailand’s highly decorated Jutanugarn sisters Ariya and Moriya and Spaniard Nuria Iturrioz, the 2018 champion here, are among 11 players within four shots heading into the final round of the 260,000 Ladies European Tour event on The Faldo.

MORE: Friday’s Dubai Moonlight Classic Daily News is FREE here

After a course-record equalling 63 in Wednesday’s opening round, Fassi emerged from a frustrating Thursday just one stroke better to par, a 71 getting her to -10. Karlsson, meanwhile, added a 68 to her opening 66 to surprisingly find herself co-leader.

“I didn’t know I was tied for the lead! The photographer told me when I was walking in from the last hole. That’s good news,” Karlsson said.

Jessica Karlsson
(Photo Tristan Jones)

So too is Karlsson’s welcome return to form after her return to the game via the COVID-19 didn’t quite go to plan.

“It was a little bit tough at the start of the year. I played some really bad golf because it had been one-and-a-half years since I had played tournament golf. I was a maths and science teacher last autumn, which was really good.

“It was hard to readjust. I have had a lot of time with my mental coach, and he has really helped me with that part of my game and my readjustment.

“I’m just going to enjoy it and have fun. I have my brother on the bag, so I’m just going to have a lot of fun!”

Afyer the fireworks of Wednesday, Fassi just simply pleased to get it into the clubhouse without any damaged done.   

“It was a bit of a struggle out there today; I couldn’t get anything going and had to save pars every three or four holes so it was hard to build momentum that I had yesterday.

“[But] I went out with a target on my back today and I still have it at the end of the day so that’s good, and hopefully some more putts drop tomorrow.

“I hit it splendid yesterday and it was average today, and I couldn’t get the few opportunities I had for birdie to go in, so if I clean up with the irons and get a couple more putts to drop, I’ll be in good shape tomorrow.”