IRVING, Texas, April 27, 2013 (AFP) - Ciganda, 2012's Rookie of the Year on the Ladies European Tour, had a 54-hole total of 11-under par 202.
World No. 1 Park In-Bee of South Korea carded a 67 to claim a share of second place on 204. She was tied with German LPGA rookie Caroline Masson, who led after both of the first two rounds.
Masson shook off a double-bogey at the first to post a 69.
South Korea's Choi Na-Yeon carded a 66 to stand alone in fourth on 205.
Ciganda, a two-time winner on the LET last season, will try to become the fourth Spanish player to win an LPGA tour title.
"It would be a dream," Ciganda said. "I mean, winning is always great, but I just want to try to focus on each shot.
"Just like today, have a great round and then at the end if someone plays better, just congratulate."
Ciganda's six birdies included an unlikely one at the par-four 12th, where she hit her drive right into a lateral hazard to leave her ball part underwater in a concrete drainage ditch.
She blasted an eight-iron off the concrete and with a fortuitous bounce her ball rolled 10 feet from the pin and she made the putt for birdie.
"I just tried to hit it as well as I could, and I think I was pretty lucky," Ciganda said. "It bounced really well to the right, and then I was lucky again to make that putt."
The 22-year-old has plenty of proven talent chasing her, including Park, who claimed the world number one ranking less than two weeks ago.
Park opened with a bogey, but nabbed five birdies -- including two to end her round -- to keep herself in contention.
Choi, ranked third in the world, carded a five-under 66 to move up from a tie for 11th.
Choi has three top-10 LPGA finishes this season, including a runner-up showing at the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore.
She was tabbed by compatriot Park as the player to watch on Sunday.
"When it comes to the final round, I think a more experienced player definitely has an advantage going into the pressure conditions," Park said. "I think Na-Yeon will be one of the ones to beat tomorrow. She had a very good day today. She was struggling a little bit with the putter last week, and you know, she changed her putting grip, and I think it's working really good."
A second cut was made on Saturday, trimming the field to 51 players. Those who didn't make it included US star Michelle Wie and 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship winner Yoo Sun-Young.
Leading third-round scores on Saturday from the North Texas LPGA Shootout (USA unless noted, par-71):
202 - Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 66-70-66
204 - Park In-Bee (KOR) 67-70-67, Caroline Masson (GER) 64-71-69
205 - Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) 70-69-66
207 - Lee Jee-Young (KOR) 72-68-67, Karine Icher (FRA) 71-69-67, Christina Kim 68-72-67, Ryu So-Yeon (KOR) 71-68-68
208 - I.K. Kim (KOR) 70-71-67, Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 70-70-68, Feng Shanshan (CHN) 71-67-70
209 - Brittany Lincicome 70-68-71, Tseng Ya-ni (TPE) 69-69-71, Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) 71-66-72
210 - Dewi Claire Schreefel (NED) 75-70-65, Cristie Kerr 70-73-67, Lexi Thompson 71-71-68, Mindy Kim 72-69-69, Kang Hae-Ji (KOR) 69-72-69, Chella Choi (KOR) 71-69-70, Jennifer Johnson 71-69-70, Moira Dunn 69-71-70, Hur Mi-Jung (KOR) 67-73-70, Jessica Korda 69-69-72, Kathleen Ekey 70-67-73
211 - Paula Creamer 73-69-69, Stacy Lewis 72-70-69, Mo Martin 67-74-70, Julieta Granada (PAR) 70-70-71, Kristy McPherson 67-73-71, Angela Stanford 69-70-72, Park Hee-Young (KOR) 68-70-73