After starting the day with a six-stroke lead after shooting Friday’s 69, four bogeys and a double bogey on hole 16 saw the chasing pack cut the leader’s advantage in half, though Chun recovered well to close with back -to back pars.
Chasing her third career major — and a first in six years — Chun said she was “so proud” of a finish that kept her shortened, though still significant, margin at the top.
“It was a little hard out there,” she told reporters.
“I’m so excited and already looking forward to an exciting final lap. If it’s too easy then I think it’s boring, so I just want to enjoy another day tomorrow.
“It doesn’t matter where I am, I’m just ready to have another good day or another good lap if I can. It’s another process I believe, so just keep doing it,” Chun added .
After closing the opening round with 10 stunning shots at Chun, Thompson took seven blows over the leader over the ensuing two days, boosted by an outstanding five-under 67 Friday.
The 27-year-old, who was an 11-time winner of the LPGA Tour and a major champion at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2014, is determined not to even look at the standings, leaving that responsibility in the hands of her caddy Will.
“I’ve honestly tried not to look at the leaderboard at all,” Thompson told reporters.
“I’m sure he will [caddie] keep an eye on it. If I have to give it a try, he’ll let me know. I’m just trying to focus on my game, my emotions.
“That’s all I can control, and whatever the outcome is, it is.”
Australia’s Hannah Green is four strokes off the lead at four-under, with Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul, Canada’s Brooke Henderson and American duo Jennifer Chang and Jennifer Kupcho trailing three-under.
The first group will tee off at 8:29 a.m. ET on Sunday, with Chun, Choi and Thompson among the last to start their final rounds around 10:30 a.m. ET
