Defending champ Ashleigh Buhai is in the box seat to win her second consecutive Australian Open title.
The South African will take a three-stroke lead over Jiyai Shin, with Minjee Lee a further four shots behind.
Buhai looked as if she could have nearly ended the tournament on Saturday, when she birdied each of the first four holes, including an epic hole out from the bunker at the fourth.
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"What a shot … our reigning champion has started the third day in spectacular fashion," commentator Mat Thompson said.
But from there on she rode a par train, making only one more birdie – at the 12th – to record her second bogey free round of the tournament.
"It was pretty much a dream start," she said after her round.
"I hit it to a few feet and then holed a good putt on two and three, and I holed a bunker shot on four.
"You've just got to ride it when it starts to happen."
After a tough few days, Minjee Lee finally found the form she's capable of, carding a five-under round to move to five-under for the tournament, seven shots back from Buhai.
She will play in the final group on Sunday with Buhai and Korean gun Jiyai Shin, but will need them both to have difficult days.
But Min Woo's older sister said she is hopeful of going low on Sunday, but was realistic about the opportunities the course presents.
"There's no holes where you can really get on, depending on the wind," she said after her round.
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"Just little changes here and there could really make us have a better shot of getting on the green, but it all depends on the wind.
"A lot of holes were very solid, you just have to play solid to make the birdies."
She said she saw highlights on the course that included Buhai's hole out from the bunker.
"Things like that have to go your way a little bit around here."
The last group will tee off at 12.23pm (AEDT) Sunday.
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