DUBAI — Even a new tournament record round of nine-under par 63 by Dutch woman Dewi Claire Schreefel could not reel in runaway leader Feng Shanshan after Friday's third day's play at the 500,000 euros Dubai Ladies Masters. At the par-72 Majlis course of Emirates Golf Club, the world No.6 and the highest ranked player in the field, Feng made three birdies in her last three holes for a third-round 67, and that helped increase her lead at the top by five shots. Schreefel, a 27-year-old from Alkmaar who has been a regular on the LPGA Tour the last two years, made four birdies in her last four holes, apart from five others in a bogey-free round. The 63 bettered the previous tournament record of 64 by Sweden's Louise Stahle in the first round of the 2007 tournament. France's Gwladys Nocera, who finished second to Laura Davies in the Money List in 2006, shot her third consecutive round of 68 to take sole possession of third place at 12-under 204. Germany's Caroline Masson, who needs to finish at least solo third to have a chance to win the Money List this year, was tied fourth one shot behind at 205 after a 69 alongside American Cindy Lacrosse (69). Spain's Carlota Ciganda, who leads the Money List right now, faltered with a one-over par 73 round to fall back to tied 20th place at 211. Ciganda has a lead of 31,959 euros over the second-placed Masson, and they are the only two players in the field who can win the honor of being called the No.1 ladies golfer in Europe. Defending champion Alexis Thompson shot herself out of contention with an even par 72 round that placed her 11 shots behind leader Feng. American Michelle Wie felt much better on the course, but a round of 70 could only elevate her to tied 31st place at 213. Feng's 18-under par score has already matched the record low winning score (by Annika Sorenstam in 2006 and In Kyung-Kim in 2009), and she still has a round to go. Schwartzel increases lead Charl Schwartzel increased his lead to four strokes at the Thailand Golf Championship with another 7-under 65 Friday in the second round. Play at the Amata Spring Country Club was delayed due to bad light, but not before Daniel Chopra (67) moved into second place, one stroke ahead of Masanori Kobayashi (67). Schwartzel leads at 14-under 130 total. Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa (66) moved up the leaderboard into fourth, two strokes ahead of 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson (70), Sergio Garcia (69) and Scott Hend (68). Fraser leads at halfway Globe-trotting Australian Marcus Fraser fired a three-under 69 to be the halfway leader of the OneAsia co-sanctioned Australian Open at The Lakes course Friday. Fraser, who has played on three continents in the past three weeks, holed four straight birdies and an eagle in the second round to lead the field at six-under into the weekend rounds. He led by a shot from first round leader John Senden and fellow Australian Brendan Jones. A further shot back was Australian Nick Cullen, who posted his first professional win this year at OneAsia's Indonesia Open. England's world No. 4 Justin Rose was among a group of six golfers at three-under. Eight-time Major champion Tom Watson squeezed into the weekend rounds after shooting four-under 68 to beat the halfway cut of four-over 148. But Chinese 14-year-old prodigy Guan Tianlang, who is the youngest player ever to qualify for the US Masters, missed out after a two-under 70 following on from his disastrous 10-over in the opening round. — Agencies
