Germany's world number 304 Sophia Popov will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the AIG Women’s Open after a flawless 67 on Saturday.
Popov, who qualified for the event just a fortnight ago, was the only player not to drop a shot in the third round at Royal Troon as she moved to four under with an eagle and two birdies.
Australia’s Minjee Lee, the world number eight chasing her first major win, and Thailand’s Jasmine Suwannapura were in a tie for second at one under.
They were the only three players under par. Americans Lindsey Weaver and Austin Ernst, and another German in Caroline Masson, were the next best in a tie for fourth on one over.
The day belonged to 27-year-old Popov, who was not playing but caddying for friend Anne van Dam when the LPGA Tour resumed after the coronavirus stoppage last month.
It then took a top-10 finish at the recent Marathon LPGA Classic in Ohio for her to qualify for the British Open for the first time since 2011.
Popov moved to the top of the leaderboard with an eagle three at the fourth and picked up two further strokes on the back nine in her four-under-par round.
Popov's putting is on point today as she rolls a lovely putt on 17 for birdie to take a three shot lead#AIGWO #WorldClass pic.twitter.com/Xqz7TdONCH
— AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 22, 2020
Popov told Sky Sports: "Four under, and bogey free, was more than I could have hoped for and makes me extremely happy.
"Honestly, at the beginning of the day, I said if I could keep it together and play a solid round, around even par, (I’d be satisfied). Conditions were definitely better than the first two days, but they still weren’t easy."
Popov admitted sleeping on such a lead would not be easy.
She said: "I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t going to be super nervous, but I’ll try to keep the nerves to a minimum. I’ll try not to check my phone. Please nobody text me!"
Our leader @SophiaCPopov tells @Harping_On about tomorrow's inevitable nerves and the incredible driver off the deck!#AIGWO #WorldClass pic.twitter.com/Jip3Cfj1tq
— AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 22, 2020
Lee, who briefly led after back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth, is also firmly in contention. She gave a shot back at the 12th but birdied 13 on her way to a 69.
Suwannapura picked up four birdies and was within one of Popov for most of her round but bogeys at the 15th and 18th were costly.
Former world number one Lydia Ko had some bright moments with four birdies but five dropped shots in her 72, ending six shots back on two over.
American Kristen Gillman was also two over after a three-under-par 68 that promised to be even better during a blistering front nine.
Gillman birdied five of the opening eight holes and was inches away from recording a hole-in-one at the Postage Stamp, Troon’s famous eighth hole.
Overnight leader Dani Holmqvist, the only player under par after two rounds, fell away badly with a 77. She started steadily with seven successive pars but then bogeyed seven of her last 11.
Inbee Park birdied three of the opening eight holes to force herself into the picture but a double bogey on the ninth and another dropped shot on the last left her where she began the day, on four over.
Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow is on nine over after carding a 72, which featured four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey on the 10th.
