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4:30pm: American wunderkind Nelly Korda has vaulted into the lead in the $US1.3 million ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open with a string of three birdies on the back nine.
The 20-year-old Korda chipped up close on the par-five 13th for the first birdie, then hit iron shots in tight on the par-three 14th and par-four 15th holes to take over from her playing partner, Japan’s Haru Nomura, at 11-under par.
A brilliant bunker shot from beside the 16th green almost brought Korda another birdie, but she tapped in for par and remained a shot ahead of Nomura.
Korean superstar Jeongeun Lee6 is making a big run today, carding a 67 to move to eight-under par and into contention.
Overnight leaders Wei-Ling Hsu of Taiwan and Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden have given back ground today while the Australian challenge has been left to Hannah Green, who is five-under through 16 holes of her third round.
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12:30pm: Australian crowd favourite Karrie Webb has made a steady start to her third round on Saturday morning at the 2019 ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open.
The Queenslander is level with the card through five holes, the highlight being a tap-in birdie on the par-5 1st.
Webb found the green in two after a piercing 3-wood, but couldn't finish the job from below the hole – shortly after watching her playing partner Mirim lee hole-out for eagle from 80 metres away.
Fellow Australians Minjee Lee and Karis Davidson are also on course, that pair both climbing to 4-under for the tournament after an early birdie apiece.
Sydney's Sarah Kemp has stormed up the standings with five birdies in her opening 10 holes taking her to 5-under and a share of 10th.
Leading duo Wei-Ling Hsu and Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom, at 10-under for the week, tee off in the day's final pairing at 1:20pm local time.
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8am: Day three is under way at The Grange Golf Club with overnight leaders Wei-Ling Hsu and Madelene Sagstrom set to tee off at 1:20pm local time.
Wei-Ling Hsu is just 24 and emerging as Taiwan’s best player. Her appearance at the top of the leaderboard for the second consecutive day should not surprise; she is ranked 69th in the world and was close to the top 30 on the LPGA Tour money list last year. She also finished fifth in the US Women’s Open. She has serious game and after her brilliant, opening 65 she backed up with 69 yesterday.
Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden picked her way around The Grange in 67 today to join Hsu at the top late in the day at 10-under.
Sagstrom made more than $US200,000 on the LPGA Tour last year and at 26, continues to accelerate her career.
Immediately behind that pair is 22-year-old Perth professional Hannah Green and America’s hugely-talented 20-year-old Nelly Korda, already one of the best players in the world, as well as former winner Haru Nomura of Japan.
WATCH: Round two highlights at The Grange