Gabi Ruffels shares Evian Championship lead, Grace Kim and Minjee Lee in contention

Australia's Gabi Ruffels will enter the final round of the Evian Championship as the co-leader, a stroke ahead of compatriots Grace Kim and Minjee Lee.

Ruffels, ranked 71 in the world, posted a 5-under-par 66 to share the lead with England's Cara Gainer on 11-under at the fourth major of the season at the Evian Resort Club in France.

Kim and three-time major winner Lee are in a four-way tie for third place on 10-under.

Ruffels, who had started her third round with a bogey, put herself in pole position with six birdies, including a brilliant late burst of four in the last eight holes.

Gainer's 7-under 64 was the second-best round of the afternoon.

World number six Lee, who endured a second-round struggle, reignited her challenge with a flawless 5-under 66, which featured five birdies.

The family message that stood out as Minjee Lee created golf history Photo shows GettyImages-2220804928 As Minjee Lee won her historic third major, a mention of her golfing brother highlighted the tyranny of distance between the two Australian stars.

She won the Women's PGA Championship in Texas last month and is seeking to become the first woman since Inbee Park in 2013 to capture back-to-back majors.

Kim birdied her last hole for a 1-under 70.

Lee and Kim are tied with Thailand's world number two Jeeno Thitikul and South Korea's Somi Lee.

World number one Nelly Korda is out of the picture after a hugely disappointing 4-over 75 left her 10 shots off the pace.

US-born Ruffels, who was raised in Melbourne, was once a top Australian junior tennis player before turning her attention to golf at the age of 14.

She has carved out a promising career so far, becoming US Women's Amateur champion in 2019.

Ruffels remains an avid tennis fan, having enjoyed a break at Wimbledon as a guest of doubles great Todd Woodbridge before tackling the Evian Championship.

"It was such a cool experience," said Ruffels, whose father Ray coached Woodbridge.

"It was great to relax and not touch the clubs for a few days and get over jet lag. Seems to have worked this week."

AAP

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