Leona Maguire four back as she chases first major title
Maguire was one-over through her first nine holes, but birdies at the 14th and 17th got her moving in the right direction again. She'll tee off tomorrow within striking distance of England's Cara Gainer and Australia's Gabriela Ruffels who share a one-stroke lead on 11-under.
Gainer shot a scorching seven-under 64 and Ruffels got home in 66 at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France.
World No 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, three-time major winner Minjee Lee, her fellow Australian Grace Kim, and second-round leader Somi Lee of South Korea are all 10-under at the fourth of this season's five LPGA Tour majors.
Gainer, 29, picked up her maiden title on the Ladies European Tour in Morocco in February. She tied for third at an LET event at this course in May.
Gainer put herself into contention for her first major victory with six birdies, an eagle at the par-five seventh hole and one bogey.
Ruffels, 25, has three titles on the Epson Tour but her best finish in a major was a T13 at the US Women's Open in 2020. She opened the third round with her only bogey of the day before posting six birdies, including four during a five-hole stretch from Nos 11 to 15.
Japan's Yuri Yoshida and China's Ruixin Liu posted the low rounds of the day at eight-under 63. Yoshida finished a clean round with eight birdies and is tied for seventh at nine-under, while Liu collected seven birdies and an eagle at No 7 to move into a tie for 12th at seven-under.
Andrea Lee (71 on Saturday) and Jennifer Kupcho (72) are the leading Americans in the field and part of the group in 12th place, four shots off the lead.
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