Sorenstam, in her LPGA Tour season debut, chipped in from 60 feet for an eagle on the second hole, then finished the third round today with a pair of birdies for a 4-under 68 that left her at 16-under 200.

"I’m definitely in a spot where I want to be," Sorenstam said. "I’ve got to play well tomorrow, but leading going into the last day is what you want. Hopefully I’ll shoot in the 60s tomorrow and feel really good."

Nineeteen-year-old tour rookie Shi Hyun Ahn shot a 66 and was two strokes back at 14-under 202 on the 6,620-yard layout at the Superstition Mountain Golf Club 50 miles east of Phoenix.

Michelle Wie kept up her impressive play with a 70. Of the 82 players who made Friday’s cut, the 14-year-old sensation was ninth overall at 7-under 209. Her previous best finish in 11 LPGA events was a tie for eighth at last year’s Kraft Nabisco Championship.

"I think today was the hardest round of my three rounds," she said. "I didn’t really hit my drivers and my irons that good today, and I had the worst lies."

Still, Wie had three birdies and only one bogey in the round.

"I guess I’m a little bit tired," she said. "I haven’t played in a tournament for a long time and I haven’t been exercising in a week. I’m a little bit worn down, but I’m still ready to go tomorrow."

Cristie Kerr, who began the day one shot behind the second-round leader Sorenstam, shot a 70 and was three back at 13-under 203. Kerr was right with Sorenstam until knocking her tee shot into the water on the par-5, 508-yard 18th.

"I don’t think I’ve ever hit a shot that far left in my life," Kerr said. "I just started laughing at myself."