England's home favourite Charley Hull and American Lilia Vu have taken over the lead going into the last round at the Women's British Open at Walton Heath after a collapse by runaway overnight leader Ally Ewing - but Australian ace Minjee Lee failed to cash in.
Lee's hopes of a third major all but disappeared as a third-round three-over 75 on a windy Saturday pushed her in the wrong direction on moving day at the 1981 Ryder Cup course as she slumped to nine shots behind the lead held by Hull and Vu at nine under.
But the Perth star's slump didn't match the disappointment for American Ewing, who began the day five shots clear at halfway but ended it two shots off the lead after her own 75 featured six bogeys and quickly opened the door for a crew of distant pursuers.
Hull finished strong with three birdies over the final four holes for a 68, raising hopes of a first home winner since Georgia Hall's victory five years ago, while Ewing's compatriot Vu became the leading US hope as she carded seven birdies and two bogeys for a 67.
"It would be absolutely unbelievable," Hull said, when asked about the prospect of winning.
"What Georgia did was unbelievable and to do that again would be unreal. But one step at a time and just go out there and have fun."
Vu, who won the Chevron Championship in April, now has the chance of her second major triumph of the year. No American has achieved that since Juli Inkster in 1999.
Another American Angel Yin and South Korean Kim Hyo-joo were one shot back in joint-third, with Ewing down to fifth place going into Sunday.
Not that she has given up the ghost yet. Far from it.
"I didn't execute shots quite like I wanted to early on but I fought really hard today, and you know I'm teeing it up tomorrow with still a great chance to win this golf tournament," she said.
"Obviously the situation was tough, coming out with pretty windy conditions.
"It took me a little bit longer than I would have liked to settle in. The nerves were obviously there but, at the same time, I was mentally in a good place to know that I was going to be presented with challenges."
Lee's hopes were effectively sunk after she bogeyed three of the first four holes before dropping another shot just before the turn, and her revival on the home stretch wasn't enough to leave her any better positioned than joint-28th.
The other Australian to make the weekend, Sydney's Grace Kim, was a shot behind Lee on one over for the tournament after she went round in two-over 74.
Other luminaries made better progress with world No.1 Nelly Korda shooting a 69 to move up to four under, five off the pace.
"I started off pretty well and then on the back nine, I just kind of started making more mistakes with the short stick," Korda said.
"I'll head to the putting green and try to figure it out again. But overall, I would say I moved up on moving day, and conditions were tough - and I'll take that."
But French star Celine Boutier, aiming for a third consecutive win following her triumphs at the Scottish Open and the Evian Championship, ended at three over after a 74, her hopes over.
With agencies
