EVIAN, France (AFP) — Yuka Saso slipped into fifth place while Celine Boutier tightened her grip on the Evian Championship on Saturday with a third round 67 to move three shots clear in her bid to become a major winner on home soil.

With heavy rain forecast for the afternoon, tee times were moved to early morning and Boutier, one ahead at halfway, made the most of the ideal conditions to bag five birdies and just one bogey.

The highlight — and vital nerve settler — was chipping in for a birdie two after a pulled tee shot at the short second.

On 11 under par, the 29-year-old French player was three better than Japan's Nasa Hataoka and four ahead of the past two winners, Brooke Henderson (67) and Minjee Lee (66).

Saso, the Philippine-born former US Open champion, fired a 71 in the third round to forge a tie with American Nelly Korda at the fifth spot with six under par.

"I'm very satisfied with my round, but it was a hard grind," said Boutier, a three time LPGA Tour winner.

"I got a great break with the chip in at the second."