Walsh climbs the leaderboard after supber five under 67 at KPMG Women’s Irish Open

Lauren Walsh promised at the KPMG Women's Irish Open press conference at The K Club on Tuesday that she was in the tournament to compete and enjoy herself. She achieved both objectives in style at the rain-soaked Kildare venue on Saturday morning, surging up the leaderboard with eight birdies and nine pars to shoot five-under for the day and move to just outside the top 20.

The only blemish on the former Castlewarden Golf Club member's impressive scorecard was a triple bogey, her third of the week, on the par-four fourth hole.

Walsh, the touring professional at Carton House in Maynooth, sandwiched that setback with birdies on the first and second holes and again on the fifth, sixth, seventh, 10th, 12th and 18th.

The superb 67 leaves the 26-year-old Kill native just outside the top 20 heading into Sunday's final round. After a costly double bogey on the 13th in round one, Walsh showed excellent form from the 14th onwards, birdieing three of her final five holes. In round two on Friday, she carded four birdies and just one bogey, which came on her final hole of the day, the ninth.

Speaking after round two, Walsh said: "My game is in a great space and I'm driving the ball really well. Hopefully my putter can heat up over the weekend."

The putter certainly responded on Saturday.

Meanwhile, The K Club touring professional Leona Maguire was also in superb form despite the difficult conditions. The Cavan native climbed steadily up the leaderboard to finish on 11-under-par and in fourth place, seven shots off the lead.

South Africa's Casandra Alexander, who led after the opening round, remained at the top of the leaderboard on 18-under after completing her third round.

With five Irish players still in the field for Sunday's final round, Walsh, Maguire, Canice Screene, Anna Foster and Áine Donegan, home supporters are in for an exciting conclusion at The K Club.