The 27-year-old Glaswegian fired 10 birdies and two bogeys in baking hot temperatures of 31C to lower by one stroke the previous record set by Gwladys Nocera at the 2008 Goteborg Masters.
Walker’s shot of the day came on the par-4 14th when, having had to take a penalty drop behind a tree, she holed a 9-iron shot from 132 yards for the first of four straight birdies.
“On 14, that was a real stroke of luck really,” said the recent Deloitte Ladies Open champion. “I had three-putted 13 for bogey and then tugged my tee shot on 14 and it had hit a tree, but from the tee we couldn’t see what had happened. I got up there and the ball was still in the tree about two feet off the ground. So I took two club length’s penalty drop and I didn’t have a line at all. I hit a 9-iron over bushes and a tree and then ran out to see where it went and it managed to go in, so it was crazy. I had to calm myself down after that.”
Walker goes into the final round with a six stroke lead ahead of China’s Yu Yang Zhang and England’s Charley Hull. She added: “I feel really comfortable with my game and I’m really enjoying it. Today was really hot and I had to keep getting myself in the shade any chance I could get to stay cool and I think that helped because out in the sun it was roasting. Obviously I would love to win and going into tomorrow I’ve just got to try and do the same again and keep playing the way I’m playing. I’m putting nicely so I’ve just got to get as many birdies as I can.”
Hull fired eight birdies for her second 64 of the tournament and is also in contention for her second LET victory this season. She said: “I didn’t really get off to a fast start, because I birdied the first but didn’t hole many putts on my front nine. I missed a short putt on the fourth hole from five feet and could have birdied the next couple of holes but I’m happy with a steady round of golf. Hopefully a low one tomorrow will put me up there.”
After six birdies and one bogey in a 67, the diminutive 22-year-old Zhang, from Guangzhou, remains in the mix for her first LET trophy and said: “I think I will be playing with two long hitters so I will stick to my game plan and just try to make birdies and focus on my shots.”
Two strokes further behind at 16-under, French duo Celine Herbin and the 2012 tournament champion Anne-Lise Caudal lie in a tie for fourth spot. Caudal injured her wrist playing out of a bunker on hole 14 and saw the LET osteopath on course, but still managed birdies on 15 and 16. She said “I’m happy to be 16-under. It looks like Kylie loves the golf course and it’s going to be hard to catch her but there is some space for second place.”
Welsh rookie professional Amy Boulden was alone in sixth on 15-under after a third round 65, while Germany’s Sandra Gal and the defending champion Carlota Ciganda of Spain share seventh place 10 shots off the lead going into the final round.
Sharing ninth on 13-under-par are Sweden’s Linda Wessberg, England’s Liz Young, Italian Diana Luna and Klara Spilkova, who is looking for a strong finish ahead of her home tournament in the Czech Republic next week.
Walker needs a final round 66 to set a new Ladies European Tour record for the lowest 72-hole total, at 30-under-par. The current record of 259, 29-under-par, was set by Gwladys Nocera when she won the Goteborg Masters in Sweden six years ago.
Collated scores at the end of round 3:
192 – Kylie Walker (SCO) 64 64 64
198 – Charley Hull (ENG) 64 70 64, Yu Yang Zhang (CHN) 64 67 67
200 – Celine Herbin (FRA) 67 68 65, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 65 69 66
201 – Amy Boulden (WAL) 68 68 65
202 – Sandra Gal (GER) 69 67 66, Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 65 70 67
203 – Liz Young (ENG) 70 65 68, Klara Spilkova (CZE) 67 68 68, Linda Wessberg (SWE) 70 65 68, Diana Luna (ITA) 68 70 65
204 – Dewi Claire Schreefel (NED) 68 64 72
205 – Sally Watson (SCO) 70 66 69, Sophia Popov (GER) 68 67 70, Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 69 70 66
206 – Nikki Campbell (AUS) 70 70 66, Jia Yun Li (CHN) 70 67 69, Alexandra Vilatte (FRA) 72 65 69, Sophie Giquel-bettan (FRA) 72 70 64
207 – Nina Muehl (AUT) 70 68 69, Nontaya Srisawang (THA) 72 69 66, Kim Williams (RSA) 72 68 67, Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 70 67 70, Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN) 68 70 69
208 – Beth Allen (USA) 66 73 69, Noora Tamminen (FIN) 72 67 69, Valentine Derrey (FRA) 69 71 68
209 – Louise Larsson (SWE) 69 73 67, Holly Clyburn (ENG) 69 68 72
210 – Sahra Hassan (WAL) 72 70 68, Patricia Sanz Barrio (ESP) 72 69 69, Hannah Burke (ENG) 71 71 68, Rebecca Artis (AUS) 66 70 74, Nikki Garrett (AUS) 70 70 70, Isabelle Boineau (FRA) 71 71 68, Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) 72 70 68
211 – Hannah Ralph (ENG) 69 69 73, Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) 68 69 74
