New order led by Koch and Rosales

Natalie Gulbis and Jenny Rosales are typical of the new breed of women golfers. Talent, style, athleticism and youth are their main characteristics. Add Paula Marti and Beth Bauer to the list as well. Rosales, a 23-year-old from the Philippines, equalled the course record of 65 set earlier in the week by Taiwan's Candie Kung to move to 12 under par after three rounds of the Weetabix Women's British Open.

Rosales tied for the lead with Carin Koch, the 31-year-old Swede who played superbly in the Solheim Cup at Loch Lomond two years ago and clinched the winning point for Europe. Koch, who shared the lead overnight with Kung, returned her third successive 68, missing a short putt at the 17th for her only dropped shot but then holing from 30 feet for a birdie at the last to make up for it.

Koch, who is a mother, recently received an offer from Playboy to pose for the magazine. She turned it down in order to concentrate on adding to her two victories ­ one in Europe and one in the United States. "I am beginning to feel old," Koch said of her contenders. "There are so many good young players. They hit it far and they are not afraid to make mistakes. Perhaps that is the way to play these days."

Rosales, whose brother Gerald plays on the Asian Tour, did not drop a shot, and with halves of 32 and 33 moved confidently up the leaderboard despite not having led after any round of her three-year LPGA Tour career before. A former five-time Philippines champion, Rosales moved to the United States five years ago and is one of a number of players based in California who have moved from Asia or are of Asian origin.

Gulbis, 19, is from the same state, having been born and raised in Sacramento, but her family is of Latvian extraction. A former Californian women's amateur champion at the age of 14, Gulbis is in her rookie season as a professional. She chipped in at the last for 67 to lie two strokes off the lead alongside Spain's Marti, who scored a 69.

Gulbis is not only playing links golf for the first time but is on only her second trip outside the States (Japan was the other destination). "It has been very exciting to come over here," she said. "I had nothing to lose but it has been great fun learning a variety of new shots, keeping the ball low and chipping around the mounds. I am staying in a bed and breakfast with my mum and it's been great so far."

Marti, the 22-year-old daughter of a Barcelona artist, won twice in her first season on the European Tour last year. "I am getting more confident day by day and I am going to go for everything tomorrow," she said.

Bauer, who beat Rebecca Hudson in the Curtis Cup two years ago, is another American rookie but she matched the 70 of Karrie Webb. The two-time former winner will start three behind, while defending champion Se Ri Pak is four off the lead, exactly the same position she was in after 54 holes last year at Sunningdale.

The sunshine brought out the best in Turnberry yesterday and a few more spectators made the journey to this isolated outpost. The organisers have been delighted that the players have enjoyed their first experience north of the border. The challenge has included shot-making skills that rarely have to be employed on the Tour, and while there remains a wide range of styles on show, the cut falling at plus-one shows the overall standard is improving. With no home winner since Penny Grice-Whitaker in 1991, it was disappointing that only eight British players made the cut.

Laura Davies was not among them but then Annika Sorenstam, the world No 1, also missed the cut. With the Ryder Cup having been postponed until this September, the equivalent in women's golf has been somewhat overshadowed. This year's match is due to take place at Interlachen in Minneapolis the week prior to events at The Belfry, and opposite the AmEx World Championship at Mount Juliet in Ireland, where all the leading men will be competing.

But with the Ryder Cup teams already set for this year's match from last year's qualifying process, there is not the usual buzz about the event at this time of the season. By contrast, the Solheim teams will be decided by the end of the month and so the most in-form teams will be lining up at Interlachen.

Both sides will have a number of new faces as the new breed oust some of the more experienced campaigners. The American team should include the likes of Laura Diaz, Cristie Kerr and Kelli Kuehne.

In Europe, the new talent appears to be emerging from the continent, with Marti, Karine Icher of France and Norway's Suzann Pettersen in line to make the team and the colourful Bavarian Elisabeth Esterl still in with a chance. "I really want to be there," said Marti. "I can't wait to play against the Americans. It is going to be a lot of fun."

Third round scores in the Women's Weetabix British Open, Turnberry (Gbr and Irland unless stated)

204 Jennifer Rosales (Phi) 69 70 65, Carin Koch (Swe) 68 68 68

206 Natalie Gulbis (USA) 69 70 67, Paula Marti (Spa) 69 68 69

207 Michelle Ellis (Aus) 69 70 68, Tina Barrett (USA) 67 70 70, Beth Bauer (USA) 70 67 72, Karrie Webb (Aus) 6 71 70, Candie Kung (Tai) 65 71 71

208 Jeong Jang (Kor) 73 69 66, Meg Mallon (USA) 69 71 68, Angela Stanford (USA) 69 70 69, Pat Hurst (USA) 69 70 69, Catrin Nilsmark (Swe) 70 69 69, Se Ri Pak (Kor) 67 72 69

209 Rachel Teske (Aus) 67 74 68, Beth Daniel (USA) 73 68 68, Patricia Meunier Lebouc (Fra) 69 71 69

210 Jane Geddes (USA) 71 69 70, Wendy Doolan (Aus) 70 69 71, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 67 71 72

211 Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 69 73 70, Dorothy Delasin (USA) 70 71 70, Marine Monnet (Fra) 71 70 70, Iben Tinning (Den) 71 69 71, Emilee Klein (USA) 68 71 72

212 Fiona Pike (Aus) 72 73 67, Cristie Kerr (USA) 72 71 69, Liselotte, Neumann (Swe) 70 71 71, Brandie Burton (USA) 71 70 71

213 Kelly Robbins (USA) 70 75 68, Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 71 74 68, Kelli, Kuehne (USA) 75 67 71, Grace Park (Kor) 73 69 71, Raquel Carriedo (Spa) 70 72 71, Lora Fairclough 71 69 73, Giulia Sergas (Ita) 73 67 73

214 Catriona Matthew 73 71 70, Toshimi Kimura (Jpn) 74 70 70

215 Becky Morgan 72 72 71, Jean Bartholomew (USA) 71 72 72, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 72 71 72, Federica Dassu (Ita) 68 72 75, Mhairi McKay 68 72 75

216 Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 70 75 71, Asa Gottmo (Swe) 72 72 72, Karen Lunn (Aus) 73 71 72, Heather Bowie (USA) 78 65 73, Yu Ping Lin (Tai) 73 69 74

217 Becky Iverson (USA) 69 76 72, Karen Stupples 73 72 72, Shani Waugh (Aus) 70 73 74, Marina Arruti (Spa) 71 72 74, Johanna Head 70 73 74, Kathryn Marshall 70 71 76

218 Suzanne Strudwick 72 72 74, Tonya Gill (USA) 72 72 74, Tracy Hanson (USA) 70 73 75, Heather DalyDonofrio (USA) 70 71 77

219 Betsy King (USA) 69 76 74, Mi Hyun Kim (Kor) 68 76 75, Ana Larraneta (Spa) 72 72 75

220 Vicki GoetzeAckerman (USA) 73 72 75

221 Rikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 72 73 76, Wendy Ward (USA) 73 71 77, Charlotta Sorenstam (Swe) 72 72 77