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Saturday, October 21

MOBILE, Ala. -- Sherri Steinhauer came from out of the pack to shoot her best round in 10 years and tie Nancy Scranton for the lead after three rounds of the AFLAC Champions.

Steinhauer carded an 8-under 64 at Magnolia Grove to tie Scranton at 14-under 202. They share a two-stroke lead over Karrie Webb entering the final round.

The day was a surprise considering Steinhauer had not broken par in her previous eight rounds entering the week. She also had missed six of her previous eight cuts and has not placed better than 10th since June.

Steinhauer had nine birdies and a bogey on the 6,231-yard course Saturday and matched the best round of her career -- a 64 at the 1990 Safeco Classic.

"I don't have a good memory from the round following the last time I shot 64," said Steinhauer, who finished with five birdies over her last six holes. "Tomorrow, I just want to do the same thing. I'm just going to be patient and enjoy the day."

Steinhauer is seeking her sixth career title and first at the exclusive event that is comprised of LPGA tournament champions and Hall of Fame members.

"I'm definitely going to have to keep making birdies," she said. "I don't exactly have a slouch behind me in Karrie Webb. She's the greatest player out here, so you've got to pay attention to her. It's kind of like having Tiger behind you.

"I'm just going to do my thing. There are a number of players out there that can post a low score, so it's just a matter of playing my own game."

Scranton kept at least a share of the lead for the third straight day by carding a 4-under 68. She is seeking her second win of the season, having claimed the Memorial of Naples in January.

Webb carded a 4-under 68 and is alone in third at 204. She has six titles this season and has won won a tour-best $1,743,053.

Hall of Famer Beth Daniel is tied for fourth with Dottie Pepper at 206, one stroke better than Barb Mucha. Pat Hurst and Rachel Hetherington are tied for seventh at 208.

Steinhauer took her lone bogey at the par-4 12th hole but closed with five birdies between Nos. 13-18 to reach the top of the leaderboard.

"I think I realized it when I was marking my scorecard and saw that I had made three in a row," she said of the birdie run. "I did a really good job playing the back nine."

The round could have been even better, but Steinhauer missed birdie putts of 10 feet or less at the eighth, ninth and 10th holes.

"It was just one of those days out there where everything felt good," she said. "I just stayed out of my own way and let myself go. At one point, I started thinking about how I was playing, then just told myself to stop thinking and take it hole by hole."

Scranton opened the day with a two-shot lead over Webb but was just 1-under through 13 holes with birdies at Nos. 1 and 5 and a bogey at the par-5 fourth.

A winner of just three career titles, Scranton had birdies at the par-3 14th and par-4 15th and finished with three straight pars to take a share of the lead into Sunday.

"I feel good," said Scranton, a teammate of Steinhauer's at the Solheim Cup. "It's kind of nice to have a struggle out there and still end up with a good score. I've been hitting it good all week and hit it real well most of the day."

Webb had six birdies and two bogeys en route to her third straight score in the 60s after 10 in a row in the 70s. She finished strongly with birdies at Nos. 16 and 17.

"I finished all right, but there were a few holes in the middle where I put an ordinary swing on the ball," she said. "It didn't do too much damage, though."

Webb, the reigning player of the year, is one win from becoming the first LPGA competitor to claim seven titles in a season since Daniel in 1990.

"Seven wins would be great, and I've given myself a chance to do that," Webb said. "So that's all you can ask for."