Ai Miyazato shot a 7-under 65 on Saturday to be 14-under for the tournament and take a one-stroke lead over top-ranked Yani Tseng after the third round of the LPGA Thailand.
Australia’s Karrie Webb shot a one-under 71, giving up her overnight three-stroke lead, to fall back into a share of third spot alongside South Korea’s Jiyai Shin, who shot a 68, at 12-under.
Miyazato, the Japanese player who won the 2010 tournament, birdied five of the first six holes on the back nine.
“I know everyone is going to try to be aggressive tomorrow,” Miyazato said.
“If I can stay in my game until the last putt, I think I have a chance.”
Tseng, the winner last year, shot her second straight 65 after opening with a 73. The Taiwanese star had 12 worldwide victories last year, seven on the LPGA Tour.
“I really want to win this tournament,” she said.
“To be a defending a champion would be great. I always really enjoy it out here to see a lot of fans and I’m very excited about tomorrow and looking forward to it.”
Webb had a three-stroke lead on Saturday morning after the completion of the lightning-delayed second round, playing the final four holes in 1-under for a 65.
Despite falling back in the field, Webb said it could have been worse.
“I was really struggling with my swing and it got worse as the round progressed, so I will take one-under,” she said.
“In the end I made some good pars out there. I’m not out of it.”
Miyazato also returned early to finish the last five holes of her second-round 70. She has seven LPGA Tour victories, all in the last three seasons.
“It was a really, really long day for me,” Miyazato said.
“I’ve been up since 4 o’clock this morning so it’s been a while. But the temperature dropped down today so that helped a lot too. So that’s why I think I could control myself out there.”
South Korea’s Amy Yang was 11-under after a 68, and second-ranked Norwegian star Suzann Pettersen was another stroke back after a 69.
Thai amateur Ariya Jutanugarn had two eagles in a 65 that left her at 9-under.