The 15-year-old Punahou School student had seven birdies en route to a 4-under-par 68 today in the LPGA tournament in France.

Wie, who was tied in 45th place after the first round and 23rd place after the second round, is now tied for ninth.

Wie's three-round total of 3-under-par 213 (75-70-68) has her tied with Meena Lee and Carin Koch.

Winning the tournament, however, is unlikely.

Wie is 11 shots behind the leader, Paula Creamer, who enjoyed another spectacular round.

Creamer, who had successive rounds of 68 the first two days, shot a 6-under 66 today with birdies on the last three holes. Her three-round total of 202 for the four-round tournament is 14-under.

Creamer, 18, who, along with Wie, represent the future of women's golf, is seven shots ahead of second-place Karine Icher and Laura Davies, and in position to win her second LPGA title in her rookie year.

Creamer became the youngest LPGA member in the history of the Tour to win a multi-round event when she won the Sybase Classic in May.

Annika Sorenstam, who carded a 72, is eight shots back with a 210 total.

Wie could have had a better round than Creamer if not for one hole.

Wie birdied the par-4 No. 2 but suffered a major setback when she recorded a triple-bogey 7 on the par-4 No. 4. But she rebounded with birdies on six of the next eight holes, including four in a row from holes No. 6 through 9.

She also birdied No. 13 before parring the five closing holes.

"It went good, very bad, very good, then sort of OK," Wie said. "Like having all four seasons in one day."

Wie's triple-bogey came when she hit a flyer through the green out of the left rough. She chipped on and then three-putted.

"Painful," she said. "I gave myself a lot of great chances," Wie said. "Tomorrow I'll make everything, I promise you."