Kim's spectacular shot with a seven iron from the right rough on the par-4 17th was the high point of a five-under 67 which lifted her to 16-under, two shots behind Japanese pacesetter Akie Iwai.

"I was trying to see if I could get a drop," said Kim, who claimed her maiden major triumph last month at the Evian Championship.

"I wasn't entirely over the sprinkler-head boxes, so you knew I just had to hit it. Leaked right again. I was like, 'Oh, please get through the rough.'

"Somehow it went in the hole, so I guess a little bit of luck in there."

Iwai eagled the fifth hole and birdied the other three par-5s at Columbia Edgewater, shooting an eight-under 64 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead.

Iwai is trying to join twin sister Chisato as an LPGA Tour winner this year after second-place finishes in Thailand in February and Los Angeles in April.

"My style, my golf style, is aggressive," she said. "That's why no change this week. Also, aim to the pin - boom! boom! Every shot, every hole. That's it."

Linn Grant was in outright third at 14-under after a third round of 65. The Swede won the 2023 Dana Open for her lone LPGA Tour title.

American Gurleen Kaur (70) was a shot further back in fourth place.

Australian LPGA Tour rooke Cassie Porter had an excellent day, signing for a six-under 66 to move into a tie for 11th at 10-under.

Robyn Choi (67) was at seven-under, a shot ahead of Gabriela Ruffels (73).