Lindy Duncan edged closer towards her first LPGA Tour victory on Saturday as the American made 17 pars in a flawless bogey-free round to take a one-shot lead at The Annika.

On a cold and blustery day at Pelican Golf Club, the 35-year-old, who joined the tour in 2014, took the 54-hole lead by shooting a four-under 69.

Overnight co-leader Hye-Jin Choi was tied at the top until she missed the 18th green to the left but did well to get down in three for a bogey and a 70, and finished one stroke back from Duncan.

England's Lottie Woad tied a group of six players - including world No 1 Nelly Korda - at seven under par, with the European Solheim Cup player twinning two birdies and two bogeys to wrap up her day at level par.

Charley Hull endured a difficult day, with the 30-year-old posting six bogeys to finish with a 76 and fall down to tied-43rd on the leaderboard at one under par.

Yuri Yoshida, who won her first LPGA title during the recent Asia swing, played alongside Korda and had a 67, leaving her two shots off the lead.

Ina Yoon of South Korea (69) was three behind and double major winner Haeran Ryo went from eight shots behind to four back with a Saturday-low 65.

Duncan, who made her debut at the Solheim Cup at age 35 and is making her 222nd career start on the LPGA Tour without winning, was at 13-under 197. The American's lone birdie came at the par-four 11th hole, after striking a seven-iron to 18 feet.

Her final act was 50ft putt over a green that looked more like bunny slopes, three ridges to cover. Duncan nearly holed it and then rapped in a 3-footer for a par to polish off a clean card.

"Today was a really tough day with the wind," Duncan said.

"The greens firm up, so I was really just trying to hit the ball in spots where you could at least hit the green or have a reasonable chip."

Greens are the defence at Pelican Golf Club, and some of the pins were in their toughest positions. Carlota Ciganda, who shared the 54-hole lead with Choi and Duncan, three-putted five times, including the 18th.

That was a big help to Duncan, who was roughly on the same line as Ciganda.

"I also thought she hit it a lot harder and it didn't go that far past, so I definitely think seeing her putt helped make mine a little easier," Duncan said.

"For that one to kind of skim the edge was pretty cool."

The 18th took a toll on just about everyone, playing all the way back into the wind.

World No 1 Nelly Korda also struggled in the trying conditions.

Korda three-putted down the ridge on the 18th for a bogey that gave her a 71 and left her six shots behind. A win can see the world No 1 qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame.

She wasn't at her best on Saturday. The 28-year-old took a double bogey on the sixth hole by going over the green into the pine straw, chipping down a ridge and off the green, taking three to get down from there.

On her back nine, Korda carded two birdies and two bogeys, also coming unstuck on the par-four 18th.

Along with trying to win, Duncan still is not eligible for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship next week, where the winner of the top 60 players who qualify gets £1.5m ($2m). A strong finish, even without winning, gets her there.

Choi has no such concerns about the season finale. She just wants to win, and two runner-up finishes during the Asia swing have helped her confidence.

"I'm just going to try to concentrate to the end," Choi said.

Watch round four of The ANNIKA on the LPGA Tour from 7pm on Sunday, exclusively live on Sky Sports Mix. Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract.