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Annika Sorenstam, trying to become the first player to win an LPGA event six times, fired a six-under par 66 on Saturday for a three-stroke lead at the LPGA Samsung World Championship.
World number one Sorenstam stood on 12-under par 204, three ahead of Mexican Lorena Ochoa after 54 holes at the 875,000-dollar event.
The Swedish star made seven birdies Saturday in the low round of the week, her last birdie coming when she curled in a 15-footer on the 18th hole. It was a dramatic improvement from her one-under 71 performance Friday.
"The key was I was a lot more settled, I felt a lot more comfortable," said Sorenstam.
Two-time defending champion Sorenstam won this event in 1995, 1996, 2002 and the past two years to match Mickey Wright's LPGA record one-event title total from the Sea Island Classic in the 1950s and 1960s.
Sorenstam, who celebrated her 36th birthday Monday, would capture her 70th career LPGA crown, trailing only Wright's 82 and Kathy Whitworth's record 88 on the all-time women's golf list.
Season LPGA money leader Ochoa, also paired with Sorenstam the first two days, has won a tour-best four titles this year to only three for Sorenstam. But just one of Ochoa's triumphs came with Sorenstam in the field.
"I'm within a short distance," Ochoa said. "I'm going to be very aggressive and very positive and give her a hard time. With her you always have to start well. You have to play well. You can't make any mistakes."
Sorenstam hit back-to-back birdies twice in the first seven holes to seize command. She dropped back with a bogey at the ninth but began the back nine with another birdie to reclaim a three-stroke lead to 10-under par.
Sorenstam lipped out a six-foot birdie putt at the par-5 12th but responded by banging in a 45-foot birdie putt on the par-3 13th to reach 11-under.
That answered the challenge issued by countrywoman Sophie Gustafson, who just seconds earlier had eagled from 25 feet at the par-5 12th. She fired a 70 to stand third, four strokes behind Sorenstam.
Sorenstam followed with four pars and her concluding birdie, answering Ochoa's birdie and ensuring the two would play together in the last round.
Sorenstam has won 12 of the past 13 events in which she has led entering the final round.
Ochoa birdied two of her last four holes, dropping a clutch putt at the par-5 15th and rolling in a 20-footer at the 18th hole, to grab second place and join Sorenstam in Sunday's final pairing showdown.
Teen prodigy Michelle Wie fired her second consecutive par 72 thanks to a birdie on the 18th hole to stand on two-over 218, sharing 13th after 54 holes.
She blasted in from a bunker for a birdie at 14 but then collected her third bogey at 15 before answering at the end.
Wie, who turned 17 on Wednesday, made her professional debut at this event a year ago. She was disqualified after the conclusion of the event for an improper drop in the third round.
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Golf-USLPGA
AFP 142041 GMT 10 06
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