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Maguire stays in touch at HSBC World Championship

Leona Maguire had her best round of the tournament
Leona Maguire had her best round of the tournament

Leona Maguire shot her best round of the tournament at the HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore to put her in contention for a top ten finish ahead of Sunday's final round.

The Irish women carded a 69 in in the third round of the LPGA event as five birdies and a couple of bogeys left her among a group of players of -5, seven shots behind leader Chun In-gee.

Chun take a one-shot lead over fellow South Koreans Lee Jeong-eun and Ko Jin-young into Sunday's final round.

The unflappable Chun moved to 12-under after 56 holes to lead from her compatriots as a bogey-free round took her to the top of the leaderboard.

The 27-year-old two-time major winner claimed sole possession of top spot with a birdie on the par-three 15th hole on the way to completing the third round in 66 strokes.

World number one Ko, who was tied for the lead going after Friday's second round, hit a 69 to remain in contention while Lee's 65 was the best round of the day.

Lee made a blistering start to her day, draining a putt in excess of 20 feet at the fourth as she picked up five shots in the opening seven holes to claim a share of the lead.

She then chipped in for an eagle at the par-five 10th to establish herself among the frontrunners.

Overnight co-leader Amy Yang put the ball in the water at the 16th to register a double-bogey seven, capping a frustrating round that leaves her three shots behind Chun and in a tie for fourth alongside Danielle Kang and Atthaya Thitikul.

Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit, leader at the end of Thursday's first round, set off at a blistering pace early in the day and moved into a share of first on the 13th with the sixth birdie of her round.

But last year's LPGA Rookie of the Year saw her challenge falter when a tee shot into the water at the 15th resulted in a double bogey before a triple bogey six at the 17th saw her drop back to four-under alongside two-time winner Park In-bee.

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