The 20-year-old Thai finished with a flourish at the par-five 18th, where her second shot clattered into a grandstand but ricocheted into a greenside sand trap, from where she demonstrated her deft touch.
The closing birdie gave her some breathing room ahead of a trio equal second on nine-under 135 -- Americans Kim (71) and Marina Alex (67) and Ryu So-yeon of South Korea (67).
Coming off back-to-back wins at the Yokohama Tire Classic and Kingsmill Championship, Ariya played with world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who posted her second successive 71 for 142.
The Thai said the course had firmed up since her morning round on Thursday. The course condition, allied to her length off the tee, has prompted her not to carry a driver in her bag this week.
"I didn't hit my iron that good but still OK and I start to make some putt on the back nine," she told reporters.
"Today is a lot more firm than yesterday, so it's really hard to approach on the second shot."
Ariya is trying to become the first player to win three in a row since South Korea's Park In-bee three years ago.
She said she was not thinking about the possibility of winning three straight, at least not yet.
"I'm really happy with it and I really enjoy golf right now."
(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Andrew Both)
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