Amanda Doherty at a dedication day

American Amanda Doherty, chasing her first career LPGA Tour title, still topped the HSPS Handa World Invitational after three rounds on Saturday.  

The golfers all teeed off at Galgorm Castle Golf Club, having alternated between this course and that of the Massereene Golf Club earlier in the week. 

The course did not give gifts to the best players, which allowed the peloton to get considerably closer. Doherty held on to the lead despite a rocky day. Scored 72 (-1), the rookie had five birdies, but was also the victim of two bogeys and a costly double bogey at the fifth pennant.

Doherty, 24 , had her best result of the season in April, when she finished tied for 14th at the Dio Implant Omnium in Los Angeles. She is 208 (-12) after three rounds.

Her main pursuers will be Taiwan's Peiyun Chien and England's Georgia Hall, who both shot 70 (-10) and are in second place with one stroke more than the leader.

The Swede Maja Stark, the American Allisen Corpuz and the Dane Emily Kristine Pedersen will watch for errors up front, they who are at – 9.< /p>

The only Canadian entered in this tournament, Alena Sharp, was eliminated after 36 holes. His cumulative score of 148 (+3) did not allow him to avoid the ax on Friday.