TAIPEI, October 26, 2013 (AFP) - The Norwegian carded one-over 73 for an aggregate total of 210, while Spain's Azahara Munoz came up with a three-under-par 69 to tie with fellow Spaniard Carlota Ciganda and South Korea's Yoo Sun-Young in second place at 214 on day three of the $2 million event.
"Today was a tough day for me. It was all about hanging in there and trying to bring it back to where I started. Disappointing to three putt 17. But glad to make the birdie on the last," Pettersen said after her round at the Sunrise Golf & Country Club in northern Taoyuan county.
The 32-year-old has strung together nine top-10 finishes in her past 10 LPGA events, including back-to-back victories at the Safeway Classic and the Evian Championship.
She is closing in on world number one Park In-Bee, who finished a disappointing 28th at last week's KEB-HanaBank Championship in South Korea and is not playing in Taiwan this week.
Munoz, meanwhile, said it was "fun finally being in contention" and being in the leading group.
"I've been hitting really good shots, but I wasn't making many putts. Actually I've been missing a few short ones and today I didn't... I'm just going to go out there and keep playing like I am."
World number six Choi Na-Yeon carded one-under 71 to tie in 7th with four other players for a total of 217, while world number nine Catriona Matthew slid to 29th for two-over 74 for a total of 221.
Taiwanese star Tseng Ya-ni, who has won 15 career LPGA titles at age 24, improved slightly with an even-par 72 to climb to 51th from 62nd on Friday.
A total of 78 players are competing in the four-day event, which has a top prize of $300,000.
Leading third-round scores in the $2 million LPGA Taiwan Championship at the Sunrise Golf and Country Club on Saturday:
210 - Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 68-69-73
214 - Azahara Munoz (ESP) 73-72-69, Yoo Sun-Young (KOR) 73-69-72, Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 72-70-72
216 - Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 71-73-72, Beatriz Recari (ESP) 72-71-73
217 - Pak Se-Ri (KOR) 76-72-69, Jenny Shin (KOR) 74-74-69, Ji Eun-Hee (KOR) 72-76-69, Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) 74-72-71, Irene Cho (USA) 71-74-72