TEXAS (AFP) — Bianca Pagdanganan fired her third straight 70 to make the gridlock at eighth place, eight shots behind leader, South Korean Kim Hyo-joo on entering Sunday's final round of the The Ascendants LPGA at the Colony in Dallas.

The Filipino shot down five birdies (Hole Nos. 1, 10, 11, 13 and 15) but bogeyed 4, 9, 14 and 16. She is bundled with four others including major winners Celine Boutier and Atthaya Thitikul at 210.

Dottie Ardina is one shot off after a 69 on Saturday, bringing down four birdies against two bogeys.

Kim birdied three of the last six holes and stretched her lead to five strokes after Saturday's third round of The Ascendant LPGA.

World No. 7 Kim, chasing a wire-to-wire victory at The Colony in Dallas, fired a one-under par 70 to stand on 11-under 202 after 54 holes.

"Carding two bogeys wasn't a good start for my momentum," Kim said. "In the back nine, I think my shots came back and was able to end with a good score so I hope to continue that momentum tomorrow."

Kim, a five-time LPGA champion, has five top-five finishes this year without a triumph, last winning in April 2022 at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii.

"I'm sure as I'm playing tomorrow, the thought of winning will pop up in my head," Kim said. "But I just want to do my best to play the way I'm satisfied with and the way I want."

Australia's Sarah Kemp fired a 69 to share second on 207 with American Lexi Thompson with Sweden's Frida Kinhult on 208.

"If my putter can continue to be hot and shoot something in the mid-60s, might be able to get it done," Kemp said of her chances to win.