US teen Lexi Thompson fired a bogey-free five-under par 67 to seize a one-stroke lead over South Korean IK Kim after Saturday's third round of the LPGA Lorena Ochoa Invitational.
The 18-year-old American stood on 13-under 203 after 54 holes with Kim on 204 after a 67 and American Stacy Lewis on 205 after firing 67 as well.
South Korean Ryu So-Yeon was fourth on 206 followed by 36-hole co-leaders Anna Nordqvist of Sweden and Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand, who could each only manage par in the third round.
World number one Park In-Bee, fighting to clinch LPGA Player of the Year honours after a season that included three major titles, was on 208 along with her rival for the prize, Norway's Suzann Petersen, and American Lizette Salas.
Petersen must finish third or better this week to keep Park from clinching the award, while a runner-up finish would assure Petersen could do no better than share the award with her.
Thompson birdied the second and fourth holes, added another at the seventh and began the back nine with a birdie as well. She added a final birdie on the day at 14.
Kim birdied two of the first three holes, then made bogeys at two of the next three before stopping the slide with a birdie at the seventh.
She began the back nine with a birdie and added another at 14, then closed with birdies at the par-3 17th and par-5 18th to stay on Thompson's heels in the 36-player event, the penultimate tournament of the LPGA campaign.
Lewis birdied 10, 11 and the par-3 13th and closed with birdies at 15 and 18 to stand two adrift.
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