The 16-year-old Punahou School senior is a shot behind Australia's Karrie Webb, who shot a 3-under 69 and is at 12-under-par 204 after 54 holes.

The 72-hole tournament is scheduled to finish Saturday.

"I played a lot harder than the past few days, the pin positions were a lot harder," said Wie. "I made my putts when I had to so I feel good going into tomorrow."

Wie, seeking her first victory on the LPGA Tour, had four birdies and two bogeys. Her three-round total is 11-under-par 205.

Tied for third at 206 are Laura Davies (67 Friday) and Se Ri Pak (70). Tied for fifth at 208 are Jeong Jang (68), Mi Hyun Kim (71), and Lorena Ochoa (73). Annika Sorenstam shot 71 and is in eighth place at 209.

Webb, Pak and Sorenstam represent the winners of this year's major women's tournaments. Webb won the Kraft Nabisco; Pak, the LPGA Championship, and Sorenstam, the U.S. Open. Wie finished in the top five in all three.

Wie finished second in this tournament last year.

From the beginning Friday, Wie had to chase down to Webb, the second-round co-leader with Wie and her playing partner.

Webb birdied the first hole en route to a 4-under 32 on the front. When Webb birdied No. 10, she was three shots up on Wie.

But Webb then double bogeyed the par-4 12th and bogeyed the par-4 13th. When Wie, who bogeyed the 12th, birdied the par-5 15th, the two were tied, 2-under for the round.

Wie fell back with a bogey on the par-3 17th. Both golfers birdied the par-5 18th.

In all Wie birdied three of the four par-5 holes: No. 9, 15 and 18. She also birdied the par-4 third.

Her tee shot on the 17th went farther than she intended into the rough. She then chipped it out over the flag and onto the opposite edge of the green. She missed her putt by 6 inches, settling for bogey. She also bogeyed the hole in the first round, while settling for par in the second round.

"It's like I became the Hulk on that hole or something," said Wie, who has struggled to control her tee shots on the 17th all week. "There's no reason that I should have gone that far. I got a bad-lie second shot. The shot felt good when I hit it but it just kept on going.

"It was just weird but tomorrow I'll get it. I'm not going to leave this tournament until I've birdied it."

She regained her form on the final hole, her tee shot soaring down the fairway. She chipped to within 15 feet to set up an eagle try, but missed her putt by a foot and took the birdie.