KUALA LUMPUR: Ashley Lau's challenging week at the Paris Olympic golf competition took another downturn as she carded a seven-over 79 at Le Golf National on Friday.
The Olympic debutante's round, marred by two double bogeys, saw her plummet to tied 52nd on 12-over 228, a stark 12-position drop from her standing at the day's start.
Following a disappointing second-round 77, Ashley navigated a tumultuous front nine.
She turned in 38, her scorecard a mix of three birdies, three bogeys, and a double bogey.
The back nine proved even more arduous.
After a bogey on the 10th, Ashley's round unravelled in the closing stretch, with four shots dropped in her final three holes.
Meanwhile, overnight leader Morgane Metraux of Switzerland brilliantly eagled the final hole to retain the top spot at the 54-hole mark, carding a 71 for a nine-under 207 total.
A thrilling finale is on the cards as New Zealand's Lydia Ko shot a 68 to join Metraux in a two-way tie for the lead, two strokes ahead of American Rose Zhang and Japan's Miyu Yamashita.
Having won silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2020, former world No. 1 Ko now has a chance to complete a full set of Olympic medals if she secures victory on Saturday.