American Angel Yin posted a second successive eight-under 64 to storm into the lead after the third round of the Honda LPGA Thailand on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Californian carded eight birdies at Pattaya’s Siam Country Club without dropping a shot, propelling her to 21 under, five strokes ahead of second-round leader Akie Iwai, who posted a 71.
Local favourites Jeeno Thitikul and Moriya Jutanugarn were tied for third at 15 under par, both of them hitting 69s on the day.
With a commanding lead Yin will be favourite to secure the title on Sunday, but she remained modest.
“I wasn’t hitting it as good as I was the last two days, but got away with some good lies and then had some shots and just came together,” she said. “Water, eat, putt, hit, great mindset. I’m a dreamer.”
Japan’s Iwai, in her debut season on the top women’s Tour after a successful spell on her home circuit, was upbeat about her performance.
“It was fun. No good result, but putting with my caddie was good,” she said.
The large crowds that showed up had energised her, she added, saying they “gave me power … and made me smile”.
Four-time Tour winner Jeeno, making her sixth appearance at the Honda LPGA, got a lot of cheers from the crowd for her birdie on the 18th, having hit a bogey-free round.
“Just be aggressive and then having fun out there, last 18 holes in my home country,” she said.
Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit finished strongly with three birdies in the last four holes but was in joint sixth place on 12 under par.
The Pattaya tournament kicks off an Asian swing for the LPGA that also takes in Singapore next week and China from 6-9 March.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Jason Butler/Getty Images
