Coakley close to breakthrough win in France

Rebecca Coakley is within touching distance of Ireland's first win on the Ladies European Tour.

The Carlow player is just two strokes behind South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace entering the final round of the Randstad Open de France Dames.

Coakley fired seven birdies in a five under par 67 at Le Golf D’Arras near Lens to share second place with Germany's Anje Monke on nine-under par.

Pace, who is also trying to win her first Ladies European Tour event, had eight birdies and a bogey in a career low 65.

Fresh from her third place finish last week, Hazel Kavanagh is tied for 17th with Tara Delaney on three-under par.

But the Dubliner should be at least three shots better off.

Kavanagh was inside the top 10 with three holes to play but bogeyed the 16th and then finished with a disappointing triple bogey eight at the last to card a level par 72.

Rookie Delaney signed for a 74.