Yealimi Noh, ranked 69th in the world, will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes after a third-round 69 flipped the tournament on its head.

Noh stood three over par through six holes on a day when Royal Lytham bared its teeth — only nine players in the entire field finished the round under par. Then she came home in 33 shots, a back-nine charge that swept her past everyone, including overnight leader Ryu Hae-ran, who had started the day four clear of the field and chasing a third consecutive major title.

Ryu's pursuit of that remarkable hat-trick unravelled in the bunkers. She dropped shots at the 7th, 8th, 10th, 12th and 14th after finding a series of traps — the kind of ground Royal Lytham punishes ruthlessly, with roughly 200 bunkers stitched across the links. By the time she signed her card, the lead was gone and Noh was the name at the top.

The world No 69 now sits alone at the summit. Five players are tied on four under par, three behind: Ryu, Jeeno Thitikul, Lucy Li, Esther Henseleit and Shiho Kuwaki. Henseleit got there with a four-under 67, the round of the day given how few players broke par.

For British fans, Charley Hull remains in the hunt — just. Hull, chasing her first major after five runner-up finishes, recovered from three early bogeys to post a 71 that left her on two under par, five off the lead. Birdies at the 15th and 16th, plus a par save on the 17th, kept her on the right side of the cut and in the conversation.

Amateur Lottie Woad shot a 70 to sit one stroke ahead of Hull at three under. Lydia Ko, three back-nines birdies carrying her to one under, lurks further still. Four of the top 10 ranked women's golfers in the world sit within five shots of Noh's lead.

Nelly Korda's bid for a career Grand Slam — winning all four of the women's majors — took a heavy blow when she double-bogeyed the 18th, a six on the last dropping her to eight shots behind. The final hole has cost her dearly; she will need something extraordinary on Sunday.

What makes this leaderboard compelling is its range. A world No 69 out in front. A major-clubbing Ryu lurking three back despite her stumble. Hull's home crowd still dreaming at five behind. And only nine players under par on a course where every bunker feels like a penalty waiting to happen.

One round remains. Noh has never won a major. Three shots sounds comfortable. Over the closing holes at Royal Lytham, with wind off the Irish Sea and trouble at every turn, it rarely is.