Stupples takes slim advantage into final day of Kraft Nabisco

The 36-year-old Englishwoman was a stroke off the pace overnight and fired a sparkling four-under-par 68 to head a high-quality leaderboard with a ten-under total of 206 at Mission Hills Country Club.

Stupples sank a curling 15-footer on the 17th green for her sixth birdie of the day and a brief two-shot cushion, prompting a series of celebratory punches into the air with her left fist.

Moments later, though, Yani Tseng of Taiwan and Norwegian Suzann Pettersen birdied the par-five last for matching 67s and a share of second place at nine under.

Overnight leader Kim Song-hee of South Korea carded a 72 to lie a further two strokes back in a tie for fourth with Mexican world No1 Lorena Ochoa, who finished birdie-birdie for a 71.

Scotland's Catriona Matthew enjoyed her best round of the tournament to just about haul herself back into contention, a 67 sees her tied for 12th, seven strokes off the pace.

Matthew's day got off to a superb par-eagle start and the Scot added four more birdies in a round sullied by just the one bogey, at the 17th.

Stupples, who played one group behind Tseng and Pettersen, lipped out from long range with her birdie attempt on 18 before tapping in for par to stay at ten under. "It's huge for me," she said after taking the 54-hole lead in the year's opening major.

"It's not so much that I have the lead, it's the fact that I'm playing well. I'd like to putt a little better but it feels like I'm right where I need to be. I've worked hard, I've been training hard and I feel like this is where I belong. I have won a major before and it's about time I did it (again]."

Stupples, who became only the third Englishwoman to claim a major at the 2004 British Open, briefly charged three strokes ahead of the pack after launching her round with birdies at the second, third and fifth. Although she bogeyed the seventh as the greens firmed up in baking sunshine, she recovered with a birdie at the par-five ninth to reach the turn in three-under 33.

Stupples also stumbled at the par-five 11th to slip back into a tie for the lead with Tseng before picking up further shots at the 12th and 17th to regain control.

The galleries at Mission Hills were treated to some breathtaking golf late in the day as the leading contenders peppered the flags with accurate approach shots and holed several clutch putts.

Tseng birdied the last two holes, spinning a wedge back to within three feet on 18, while Pettersen roared into the title hunt with a sizzling run of four birdies in eight holes. Pettersen, a top-five finisher here for the last three years, was delighted to fight her way back into contention after slipping back with a 73 on Friday.

"It was a tough day yesterday but I managed to hang in there and finish strong," said the Norwegian, who won her only major title at the 2007 LPGA Championship. "I'm hitting the ball very, very solid so it's going to be a fun day tomorrow."

Seven former major winners, including two-time champion Karrie Webb of Australia and South Korea's Shin Ji-yai, were within seven shots of the lead going into yesterday's final round.

Meanwhile, China's Liang Wen-chong edged out Korean Kim Hyung-tae in a play-off yesterday to win the opening event of the OneAsia season at the Luxehills Chengdu Open. Roared on by huge crowds at Luxehills International Country Club, Liang birdied the first extra hole on the par-five 18th to complete the wire-to-wire victory.

Liang started the final day with a three-shot lead over Kim but the pair finished tied at 21-under-par after the Korean produced a final round six-under 66, while the Chinese No1 shot a 69. "Wow, what a day," said Liang after claiming his second OneAsia tournament victory..

"To win in front of my home fans in this manner makes it so special. I am very proud."

On a thrilling back nine, the advantage swung Kim's way but Liang responded by holing a 15-foot birdie putt to force a play-off before sealing the victory after reaching the green in two and completing a two-putt birdie from 60 feet, while Kim's 20-foot birdie chance lipped out.