Former Irish champion Deirdre Smith will need an exceptional final round to deny Lily May Humphreys a wire-to-wire win in the Irish Women's Open Stroke Play Championship at Baltray.

A member of County Louth, she's tied for fifth on one-under after a two-under 72, eight strokes behind Curtis Cup star Humphreys (17) on one-under.

Although not quite as impressive as her opening 67, Humphrey's shot an excellent, two-under par 72 in tougher conditions to take a three-shot lead over Scotland's Hazel MacGarvie (71-71) into Sunday's final round.

The Netherlands' Romy Meekers, who is playing her third consecutive Irish Women's Open Stroke Play at Co. Louth, lies two shots further back on four-under.

"It was tougher today, there were no holes down or into the wind," said Humphreys, who is seeking back to back wins following her victory in last week's Welsh Strokeplay.

"It was all sideways which is harder really, especially allowing for the wind off the tee as you really don't want to end up any of the fairway bunkers.

"I didn't putt as well today, but I hit more of the par fives in two, so it was just like easy two-putts, and then I made quite a few bogeys – I think I made like five, so where I missed a couple of greens, I wasn't really holing out the best compared to yesterday."

The Netherlands’ Romy Meekers, who is playing her third consecutive Irish Women's Open Stroke Play at County Louth, lies five shots off the lead in third after a brace of 72's.

"I started with a bogey as I couldn't reach the green as it was straight into the wind, but then I chipped in for eagle on two which was really nice!" Meekers said.

"I was on the third green in two and two-putted and hit it close on six so it was just some nice iron shots that helped me.

"The wind was turning a lot, and it's not like you can predict the wind from the previous hole as it could have changed direction."

Ballinrobe's Shannon Burke, who was four under for her opening nine holes today, slipped back to finish one-over for the tournament while Lisburn's Paula Grant added a disappointing 77 to her opening 73.

Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship, County Louth Golf Club (Par 74)

Detailed scores

139 L Humphreys (ENG) 67 72

142 H MacGarvie (SCO) 71 71

144 R Meekers (Ned) 72 72

146 C Goadby (SCO) 71 75

147 D Smith (Co. Louth) 75 72, E Brennan (ENG) 74 73, E Gower (ENG) 72 75, E Briggs (SCO) 71 76

148 S McWilliam (SCO) 74 74, N Armbruester (SUI) 74 74

149 P Brown (ENG) 78 71, C McGinty (ENG) 76 73, S Burke (Ballinrobe) 75 74

150 P Grant (Lisburn) 73 77

151 A Foster (Elm Park) 78 73

152 N Slater (ENG) 78 74, J Ryan (WAL) 77 75, C Gainer (ENG) 77 75, E Lewis (ENG) 76 76, E Danielsson (Fin) 75 77, A Muirhead (SCO) 74 78

153 A Donegan (Lahinch) 79 74, J Goh (SGP) 74 79

154 K O'Connor (WAL) 77 77, L Mernagh (Elm Park) 76 78, S Byrne (Douglas) 75 79

155 L Simpson (Massereene) 81 74, R Thompson (Cork) 80 75, C Noja (GER) 79 76, L McClymont (SCO) 77 78

156 J O'DriSCOll (Muskerry) 77 79, H Barker (ENG) 77 79, E Murray (Co. Louth) 77 79, C Coughlan (Douglas) 74 82

157 L Bramwell (WAL) 77 80

159 L Jones (WAL) 84 75, M Fraser (SCO) 80 79, B Rook (ENG) 78 81, H Hall (Enniscrone) 78 81

160 E Corcoran (Grange) 79 81, O Purfield-Goulding (Co. Louth) 77 83, C Casey (Hermitage) 77 83

161 A Dawson (Tramore) 81 80, L Temple Lang (Elm Park) 74 87

162 C Shippam (Ballykisteen) 81 81, I Simpson (ENG) 80 82

163 G Carr (Ire) 83 80, N Joyce Moreno (Royal Portrush) 83 80, M Vater (ENG) 81 82

164 J Browne (Kilkenny) 82 82, G Shears (AUS) 81 83

Missed cut

165 M Doyle (The Heath) 83 82, 

166 L Murray (Delgany) 82 84, J Allen (Royal Portrush) 80 86, 

169 E Thorne (Elm Park) 86 83, A Greham (Ballina) 78 91, 

170 E Fenlon (Grange) 85 85, E Fleming (Elm Park) 84 86, 

171 B O'Keeffe (ENG), 88, 83, 

172 A Sawyer (ENG), 89, 83, X Rama (Carton House), 89, 83, 

173 L Kelly (Ballykisteen), 87, 86, A Thompson (Cork), 87, 86, 

175 C Hopkins (Woodbrook), 87, 88, 

176 K Poots (Knock), 87, 89, 

178 C McGonagle (Portsalon) 87 91

RTD T Gordon (Laytown & Bettystown) 101