Lee-Anne Pace was out of the picture after carding 75 on Friday at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, but she raced back into the top 30 with a 66 on Saturday.
South Africa’s top-ranked woman golfer was bogey-free at TPC Kuala Lumpur in the third round and included a hole-out for eagle at the 10th to her five-under-par showing.
The world number 46 birdied two of the par fives in Malaysia, then added a final birdie at the 15th to sign for 66 and a share of 28th place.
Leading the way was China’s Shanshan Feng, who was seven under par through 17 holes when thunderstorms rolled in. The Olympic bronze medallist came off the course on a 13-under-par total, one stroke ahead of Anna Nordqvist.
Overnight leader Amy Yang was sole third on 11 under par, followed by Suzann Pettersen and Candie Kung in a share of fourth place.
World number one Lydia Ko and Korea’s Chella Choi shared sixth place, while seven players were tied for eighth place.