Unflappable former world No.1 Jiyai Shin stands between Hannah Green and a hoodoo-busting home Australian Open triumph.
With some late magic to complement her extraordinary consistency, Korean Shin emerged from the pack to steal the outright third-round lead on a wildly fluctuating day of fortunes on the famed Melbourne sandbelt.
Chasing a second Open victory, after winning at Royal Canberra in 2013, Shin chipped in on the 17th hole, then drained a long bomb at the last to soar to 14 under par for the championship.
The two-time British Open champ eventually signed for a dazzling six-under 67 at the rainswept Kingston Heath Golf Club and has, amazingly given the extreme conditions, only made two bogeys through 54 holes.
"It feels like I got a big gift today, especially on 18," Shin said.
With an astonishing six birdies in a row mid-round, Green seemed destined to lead into the final round before an unfortunate double-bogey stumble at the 17th.
The world No.6 left her second shot in the trap after her ball clipped the lip of the bunker, then missed her bogey putt attempt before Shin chipped in on the very same hole for a crazy late four-shot swing at the top.
Showing the class that has already yielded three titles on the LPGA Tour this year, Green bounced back with her eighth birdie of the day at the last to sign for a 68.
The stage is set for a classic Sunday duel.
"Of course she really wants it because she's Aussie," Shin said.
"And when I played two years ago, she missed a couple of shots to get in the lead.
"I think we have such a good pairing tomorrow. We are good friends and we are also good competitors too.
"Wth this tough condition, tough golf course, it's really a good challenge for us each so I look forward."
At 12 under, Green is not only two behind Shin but just two in front of South Africa's lurking two-time defending champion Ashleigh Buhai, who matched the new leader's 67 to remain in the hunt for an unprecedented Open hat-trick.
With 20-year-old Queenslander Justice Bosio six shots off the pace in fourth, the tournament looks a three-way battle for the Patricia Bridges Bowl after five players had held at least a share of the lead on a day of fluctuating fortunes.
Bosio was one of those after following up a birdie on the ninth with an eagle three at No.10 to go top on her own at 12 under.
But the former amateur star and 2023 Karrie Webb Scholarship recipient dropped four shots on the back nine.
Fellow Australian Steph Kyriacou is solo fifth, one stroke behind Bosio at seven under after mixing an eagle and five birdies with four bogeys and eight pars in a tumultuous round of 70.
Shin's 17-year-old compatriot Hyojin Yang's audacious attempt to win the Open as an amateur seemingly came to an end as the halfway leader carded a 76 to slump to six under and outright sixth.
Dual major winner Minjee Lee was a big early mover in horrible conditions to start the day.
The former world No.2 defied driving rain to carve out a superb bogey-free 69 to storm up to 11th at one under - but seemingly out of it 13 shots adrift of Shin.
No Australian woman has won the Open since the great Karrie Webb a decade ago.
