Sunday 22 June 2014 10:33, UK
Michelle Wie and Amy Yang share the lead after three rounds of the US Women's Open at Pinehurst, and the duo will start the final day four shots clear of the pack.
Wie is searching for her first Major victory and began the day with a three shot advantage but she endured a difficult spell during her third round and eventually carded a two-over score of 72 to slip back to two-under.
The 24-year-old American was in charge when she reached six-under with a birdie at 10 but she slipped back after a double-bogey at 11 was followed by bogeys at 12 and 14.
However, she steadied the ship with pars at the final four holes and said: “I can take a lot of positives heading into tomorrow.
"I feel my putting was good and I am grateful to be in contention. As an American, I'm going to play with a lot of pride tomorrow.
“It's tough out there and my system got a little overheated. You can't be in the trees here but I felt like I was grinding out there."
Yang of South Korea, who was joint third after Friday's round, recorded six birdies and four bogeys in a topsy-turvy round of 68, which did not feature a par until the eighth hole.
She sits alongside Wie, four clear of a group which includes Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow, who is in a four-way tie for third on her professional debut.
The 22-year-old Royal Portrush golfer recorded four birdies on the front nine and reached one-under at the 10th but then made three birdies to drop back slightly, carding an impressive 69 nonetheless.
She is level with American veteran Juli Inkster (who shot a superb round of 66), Yang's compatriot Choi Na-yeon (71) and Australian amateur Minjee Lee (72).
The 53-year-old Inkster had not made the cut in this championship in five years but will now try to become the oldest LPGA major champion by 10 years.
Australia's Lee is hoping to keep her feet on the ground on Sunday and said: "I've been in this position, but not in a big tournament like this, obviously.
"Yeah, I think it will be different and I'll just try my best."
