Rebecca Hudson inside top 40 going into last round of European Masters

Third-round leader of the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters, Caroline Masson, of Germany, plays her tee shot at the 12th tee (Picture: Tristan Jones).

Hudson went out in level par on the Buckingham GC, Denham with three pars, three birdies and three bogeys.

She then had a period of tranquility with six consecutive pars from the 10th before the damage of a double bogey at 16 was halved immediately with a birdie at 17.

She stands tied 39th at one over (70 74 73) going into the final day.

Cleckheaton’s Georgina Simpson was unable to build on her second round 70, accumulating five bogeys and a double.

However, she did birdie two of her last five holes, including the 18th - albeit they were bookends to two of the bogeys - but they will hopefully give her encouragement for the last day.

She lies in a share of 61st (75 70 77) on six over.

Germany’s Caroline Masson has a two-stroke lead over Thai pair Titiya Plucksataporn and Nontaya Srisawang at the head of the field.

Masson conjured up five birdies against one bogey on the first nine holes in the third round before making another birdie on the 15th.

The 26-year-old from Gladbeck finished on 12 under par as she chases her second LET title after the 2012 South African Women’s Open as many of her closest competitors struggled in the gusty conditions on the back nine.

English pair Alex Peters and Charley Hull, in first and second position overnight, both carded 77s to slip into a tie for ninth and 18th respectively.