Despite a flurry of birdies on the back nine, Leona Maguire's hopes of retaining her Drive On Championship receded as she slipped seven shots off the lead heading into the final round in Arizona.
Maguire, who became the first Irish winner of an LPGA Tour event in the same competition last year, carded a round of 69 on Saturday to climb to nine-under par, seven adrift of leader Celine Boutier.
Things looked bleak for the defending champion as she fell back to four-under, with dropped strokes on 5, 8 and 10. From there, she rallied impressively with birdies on 11, 13, 14, 15 and 18 to clamber back inside the top-40.
Joining her on nine-under is her compatriot Stephanie Meadow, who bounced back from a mediocre Friday round, with a fine 67.
The Antrim woman started and finished her round strongly, with three birdies in the opening five holes and three in the closing five, with a solitary bogey on 16 sandwiched in.
At the head of the field is World No. 14 Boutier, the French woman carding 65 to reach 16-under, one clear of a trio of players, Alison Lee, Hae Ran Ryu and Moriya Jutanugarn.
Further back in the chasing pack, England's Charley Hull posted a second successive 66 to reach 13-under. 2022 Chevron Championship winner Jennifer Kupcho is one back on 12-under.
