Moriya at tied 2nd behind Kim at British Open

The elder sister of last year’s winner Ariya had seven birdies against two bogeys for a three round total of 11 under-par-205 which placed her at joint second alongside Georgia Hall of England.

“I played well and I'm pretty happy with what I'm doing on the course. You know, just keep doing what I'm doing tomorrow and just have fun on the course,” said Moriya who, like the rest of the field was playing under drizzles most of the day.

“It's just like typical Scotland weather, which you can't really be confident about. It's on a really good golf course and very, very pretty, so I enjoy like looking around. It keeps me pretty calm and happy on the course.”

Moriya is in the hunt for her first LPGA title. With the defending champion already missing the cut, the Thai is trying to join her sister Ariya as a LPGA and major champion; Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam are the only set of sisters to win the LPGA Tour.

“ There's a lot of good players out here and I'll just try to do my best tomorrow and play my game and keep enjoying on the course,” Moriya said.

The 29-year-old Kim famously missed a one-foot putt on the final green to lose the chance of a first major win at the 2012 ANA Inspiration, but she holed from all over the place in a faultless third round of 66.

In-Kyung Kim 

Kim's 17-under-par total of 199 was a championship 54-hole record - one better than Ariya Jutanugarn at Woburn 12 months ago.

England's Hall, playing with Kim, also finished on 11 under after a 70.

She had narrowed the gap on her playing partner with three birdies in a row from the 13th - but a bogey at the 16th and a four putt double-bogey six at the 17th means she has a massive gap to make up over the final 18 holes.

"I felt really good about myself today and really adjusted to the pace of the greens," said Kim, who reckons she has finally put the 2012 miss behind her.

"It has been tough," she admitted. "I was so disappointed after 2012, but I have finally managed to let go. It had taken away some of the joy of golf. But I decided I had to be nice to myself."

 

In the mixture of rain and sun, she birdied the second and then four in a row from the fifth. More birdies came at the 11th and 12th.

Park Inbee, the 2015 champion at Turnberry, made a surge through the field by equalling the course record 64. On ten under, she is still a threat.

The 29-year-old seven-time major winner made the cut with just a shot to spare, but a flawless eight-birdie round raised hopes of a second win in Scotland.

Park played alongside another former champion, Stacy Lewis, and the American, who won over the Old Course at St Andrews four years ago, also showed her hunger for a second victory at the 'home of golf' with a 65 for nine-under.

Park ruled women's golf and was the world number one for over a year in 2013/14, but she came into the week unhappy with a normally plus point of her game, her ball striking. "But today was much better," she said.

"Over the first two days I struggled with the putter. But I holed some and to have eight birdies and no dropped shots makes me very happy.

"I always enjoy playing in twosomes. Play is much quicker and Stacy and I both played some great golf. We fed off each other."

World number one Ryu So-Yeon, who made the cut on the final mark, had her best round of the week with a 68 to reach five under par.