LOS ANGELES - Reigning British Open champion Ariya Jutanugarn has continued her breakout year form by firing a five-under 67 to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Canadian Women's Open.
Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn celebrates winning the 2016 Women's British Open Golf Championships at Woburn Golf Club, on July 31, 2016.
The 20-year-old from Thailand is making a bid for her fifth victory of 2016 after finishing 54 holes on the Priddis Greens Country Club course at 17-under 199.
Ariya said following her third round on Saturday that she doesn't watch the leaderboard.
"I keep an eye on me," said Ariya of Bangkok. "I don't really care who the leader is. I want to play my game."
Ariya posted seven birdies from the fourth through the 14 holes. She made bogey on Nos. 16 and 18 but it was just a small stumble on another brilliant round by the LPGA Tour's biggest rising star.
"Tomorrow, I really want to have fun, and I really want to be happy on the course," said Ariya, who has a two-shot lead on South Korea's Chun In-Gee at the tournament in Calgary, Alberta.
Ariya has three titles this year on the USLPGA Tour, comprising the Yokohama Tire Classic, Kingsmill Championship and Vilvik Championship. She also won the British Open last month and the 2013 Lalla Meryem Cup on the Ladies European Tour.
Chun, the 2015 US Women's Open champion, stormed into contention with a bogey-free 66, posting three birdies on each nine.
South Korea's Kim Sei-Young recorded a 68 and is five shots behind in a tie for third with Stephanie Meadow, of England, who shot a second straight 69.
Crowd favourite Alena Sharp, of Canada, posted a 67 with four birdies coming home and was six strokes down in a tie for fifth with Anna Nordvist (66), of Sweden, and three more South Koreans -- Jang Ha-Na (67), Amy Yang (68) and Chella Choi (69).
Top-ranked Lydia Ko, of New Zealand, finished at 70 and is seven shots back in a tie for 10th with Lee Min-Jee (67) of Australia, Gabby Lopez (68), of Mexico, Suzann Pettersen (69), of Norway, Budsabakorn Sukapan (69), of Thailand, and Kim Hyo-Joo (70), of South Korea.
Another crowd favourite is Brooke Henderson, the budding 18-year-old Canadian star who is No. 3 in the World Golf Rankings. Henderson is tied for 21st after a second consecutive 68 following an opening 72.