CARLSBAD, California, March 23, 2013 (AFP) - Recari, seeking to add a second LPGA Tour title to the LPGA Challenge crown she won in 2010, had a 54-hole total of 11-under par 205 and a two-stroke lead over Australian Hall of Famer Karrie Webb.
Webb had six birdies, but her four bogeys included two to cap her round at 17 and 18. Her two-under 70 left her on 207, one stroke in front of South Korea's I.K. Kim and American Paula Creamer.
Kim had five birdies and three bogeys in her 70, while Creamer notched four birdies and three bogeys in a 71.
Stacy Lewis, playing her first tournament since taking over the world No. 1 ranking, carded a three-under 69 to move into a tie for fifth place with fellow Americans Lizette Salas (70) and Cristie Kerr (71), on 209.
"The last time I was in the lead heading into the fourth round was when I won, so it feels good," said Recari, who had a one-shot overnight lead over Webb and Creamer.
The Spaniard parred the first 10 holes, as Webb edged atop the leaderboard after countering a bogey at the second hole with five birdies over her next 10 holes.
Webb, who claimed the last of her 38 career LPGA victories at the 2011 Founders Cup, gave a stroke back with a bogey at 13.
But she drove the green at the 16th and two-putted for birdie to rebuild her advantage.
Recari also drove the green at 16, however, and drained her eagle putt to claim a share of first.
Webb then bogeyed 17 from the trees to the right of the fairway, and fell another shot back when she two-putted for bogey at 18. Even so, the Aussie veteran likd her position.
"Not every time that I give myself a chance to win do I win, but that's where I feel the most comfortable," Webb said.
"I like to have a chance to win and I've put myself in there with a good shot tomorrow. Because of my experience, I'm comfortable there."
The tournament is without defending champion Yani Tseng, who was toppled from the No. 1 spot in the world rankings this week by Lewis.
Taiwan's Tseng overslept on Wednesday and missed the tee time for her pro-am round, and was therefore disqualified from the tournament.
Leading third-round scores on Saturday in the LPGA Kia Classic (USA unless noted):
205 - Beatriz Recari (ESP) 69-67-69
207 - Karrie Webb (AUS) 67-70-70
208 - I.K. Kim (KOR) 71-67-70, Paula Creamer 69-68-71
209 - Stacy Lewis 70-70-69, Lizette Salas 69-70-70, Cristie Kerr 70-68-71
210 Inbee Park (KOR) 69-69-72, Jane Park 66-72-72
211 - Na Yeon Choi (KOR) 72-71-68, Azahara Munoz (ESP) 72-70-69, Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 71-71-69, Mo Martin 69-71-71, Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 75-68-69, Chella Choi (KOR) 71-70-71, Jeong Jang (KOR) 72-68-72
213 - Ha-Neul Kim (KOR) 73-72-68, Jacqui Concolino 70-72-71, Sandra Gal (GER) 70-72-71
214 - Amy Yang (KOR) 73-73-68, Jiyai Shin (KOR) 71-73-70, Giulia Sergas (ITA) 68-74-72, Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 67-72-75, Haeji Kang (KOR) 69-69-76
215 - Kristy McPherson 70-76-69, Alison Walshe 74-69-72, Hee Kyung Seo (KOR) 71-72-72, Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG) 69-74-72, Jee Young Lee (KOR) 72-69-74, Stacy Prammanasudh 71-70-74, Jenny Shin (KOR) 70-71-74