KAPALUA, Maui — With seven groups still on the course, Morgan Pressel didn't think her slim lead would hold up by the end of the day. She should've known better as the touring pro at windswept Kapalua.

Pressel moved into position for her first LPGA Tour victory of the year, shooting a 5-under 67 yesterday for a share of the third-round lead in the inaugural Kapalua LPGA Classic.

The 20-year-old Pressel was tied with Brittany Lang (71), Carin Koch (68), and Jee Young Lee (70) at 5-under 211. All four leaders are chasing their first win of the season.

"Hopefully, come out tomorrow and I can fire like I fired at them today," Pressel said. "I felt like I was able to let go a little bit more today than I have in the past month. Hopefully, I can continue that and knowing the golf course, it's just an added bonus."

Pressel missed an easy opportunity to move to 6 under for the outright lead when she lipped out a 2-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

"It's hard to walk off the last hole like that," Pressel said. "I just missed it. Nothing else to say about that."

There was a traffic jam at the top with 16 players within three shots of the lead.

Laura Diaz, seeking her first win since 2002, and South Korea's Sun Young Yoo and Il Mi Chung shot 71s and were one stroke off the lead along with second-round co-leader Suzann Pettersen (72). Heather Young (67), Cristie Kerr (70) and Alena Sharp (72) were 3 under.

Conditions at the hilly, pine tree-lined Bay Course were windy, causing problems around the greens. However, the trades were not as strong as the two previous rounds, allowing for more birdie chances.

"I played the most solid round of golf I played all week in terms of ball striking," said Pressel, who hasn't finished in the top 10 since June.

Last year, Pressel won the Kraft Nabisco Championship, becoming the youngest player in tour history to win a major.

Annika Sorenstam, who opened with a 77, shot a 71 and was at 2 over. The 72-time LPGA Tour winner is making one of her last competitive appearances in the United States before leaving the tour at the end of the year.