Monday 22 September 2014 10:22, UK
Rookie Paula Reto continues her impressive form at the Yokohama Tire Classic in Prattville, Alabama, where she is the joint leader with just 18 holes to play.
The young South African overcame a double-bogey five at the seventh hole on Saturday to share top spot with Korean Mi Jung Hur.
Reto, who opened with rounds of 65-66, posted a two-under-par 70 on day three when she carded six birdies in all – including three in the last five holes.
She teed-up this week with a world ranking of 316, having had just a single top-10 finish in 17 starts this season.
That came in Portland at the end of the August when she tied-for-ninth to move just outside the top 100 in the Order of Merit.
Tied with her on 15-under-par is Jung Hur who is chasing her first LPGA Tour title in five years.
She had a 67 and, during the opening 54 holes in the Deep South state, has made just three birdies.
The pair are four shots clear of their nearest challengers Stacy Lewis and Kris Tamulis – the latter fired a best of day 65.
The highest-placed Brit is England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff who is tied-for-16th following rounds of 70-71-70 – 10 shots off the pace.
Top 10
201: Paula Reto (Rsa) 70
201: Mi Jung Hur (Kor) 67
205: Stacy Lewis (USA) 70
205: Kris Tamulis (USA) 65
208: Moriya Jutanugarn (Tha) 71
208: Alison Walshe (USA) 71
209: Perrine Delacour (Fra) 69
209: Sydnee Michaels (USA) 72
209: Il-Hee Lee (Kor) 68
209: Brittany Lang (USA) 70
209: Ayako Uehara (Jpn) 70