PITTSFORD, August 16, 2014 (AFP) - The American finished 54 holes at Monroe Golf Club at 10-under-par 206, with former world number one and defending champion Park In-Bee and Norway's Suzann Pettersen a shot back on 207.
Lincicome, a five-time winner on the LPGA Tour is trying to become the fourth consecutive American to win a major this season, joining Lexi Thompson (Kraft Nabisco Championship), Michelle Wie (US Open) and Mo Martin (British Open).
Her resume already includes a major title at the 2009 Kraft Nabisco, but her last win came three years ago at the ShopRite Classic.
South Korea's Park kept Lincicome in her sights with a third-round 69, while Pettersen, the 2007 LPGA Championship winner, posted a 67.
South Korea's Lee Mi-Rim (69), who won last week at the Meijer Classic, was alone in fourth at seven-under par.
New Zealand's Lydia Ko (71), Gerina Piller (69) and Meena Lee (71) were tied for fifth on six-under 210.
Ko, seeking a first major title at the age of 17, could overtake Stacy Lewis atop the world rankings with a win this week.
Leading third-round scores on Saturday in the LPGA Championship at Pittsford, New York (USA unless noted, par-72):
206 - Brittany Lincicome 67-68-71
207 - Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 71-69-67, Park In-Bee (KOR) 72-66-69
209 - Lee Mi-Rim (KOR) 69-71-69
210 - Gerina Piller 72-69-69, Lydia Ko (NZL) 70-69-71, Meena Lee (KOR) 66-73-71
211 - Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 69-73-69, Feng Shanshan (CHN) 68-72-71, Jane Park 70-69-72
212 - Tiffany Joh 70-72-70, Azahara Munoz (ESP) 71-70-71, Julieta Granada (PAR) 75-65-72, Beatriz Recari (ESP) 70-70-72, Lexi Thompson 66-72-74
213 - Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 73-73-67, Caroline Masson (GER) 72-73-68, Cristie Kerr 68-74-71
214 - Ashleigh Simon (RSA) 74-72-68, Mo Martin 72-70-72, Lisa McCloskey (COL) 67-75-72
215 - Jenny Shin (KOR) 75-71-69, Brooke Pancake 69-76-70, Karrie Webb (AUS) 73-71-71, Sandra Gal (GER) 71-73-71, Stacy Lewis 71-73-71, Laura Diaz 73-70-72, Danielle Kang 70-73-72, Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) 74-68-73, Ji Eun-Hee (KOR) 69-73-73, Lee Il-Hee (KOR) 69-73-73