Staff WriterGermany’s Laura Fuenfstueck will start Sunday’s final round of the PIF London Championship with a three-shot cushion — but if you were looking for the headline story at Centurion Club on Saturday, it was Danielle du Toit’s blind-date victory in the team event.
Fuenfstueck’s 3-under-par 70 nudged her to 9-under for the week, three ahead of Spain’s Carlota Ciganda (72) and Belgium’s Manon De Roey and France’s Perrine Delacour, who both signed for the day’s low round of 67 in this Golf Saudi-backed showcase.
But while Fuenfstueck’s lead wobbled late with bogeys at 15 and 17 before a closing birdie restored order, the team leaderboard exploded into chaos.
Du Toit — who only found out she was playing after Charley Hull withdrew injured on Thursday night — captained her quartet to a one-shot win over the squads led by Georgia Hall and Chiara Tamburlini.
From First Reserve to First Place
Du Toit’s week reads like the kind of script even Hollywood would reject as “too far-fetched.”
“So I withdrew from the tournament. Then the following day, I got on a plane, and when I landed at Heathrow, I got the call saying I’m now in the tournament. I played no practice round. I have never seen this course. I played completely blind. I am here,” she told reporters, still looking as if she couldn’t believe it herself.
From first reserve to first-time winner, the South African closed with back-to-back birdies to seal the deal, her teammates barely able to comprehend what had just happened.
Australian Sarah Kemp — still rebuilding her career after breaking her leg in a golf cart accident last year — rookie Megan Dennis of England, a graduate of the Aramco Power-Up initiative, and Spain’s Marta Sanz Barrio, the only player to eagle the 18th on Saturday, all chipped in with critical points.
Fuenfstueck Still the Player to Beat
While Du Toit and company celebrated, Fuenfstueck quietly reminded everyone why she’s been the class of the field. Three birdies in four holes before the turn had her cruising, before the late stumble on the back nine gave the chasing pack a sniff.
“I just want to play good golf, that will be my goal tomorrow, put good swings on and see where that takes me at the end of the day,” she said. “I’m sure we are going to have some big crowds tomorrow so I’m really excited to be in that position again.”
One of those chasers is Ciganda, a Golf Saudi ambassador who saw a promising round slip away late. “I had a lot of chances, but didn’t make enough putts,” she said. “I think we have a chance to win. I like the course, it’s a fun course to play, and I think you can even go lower. There are some opportunities. Make a few putts tomorrow, and hopefully that’s good enough to win.”
Sunshine, Crowds and a Sunday Showdown
Saturday brought another bumper crowd to Centurion, with sunny but breezy conditions and even warmer weather forecast for the final day.
Off the course, Golf Saudi’s activities drew in hundreds of local children, parents, and fans, reinforcing the series’ mission to grow the game and open doors for women golfers worldwide.
The PIF London Championship now sets the stage for a finale with everything on the line — a leaderboard within striking distance, a defending leader under pressure, and the possibility that Sunday could deliver another underdog moment as improbable as Du Toit’s.
