Suitably calmed, Stupples struck a booming drove down the opening fairway and went on to birdie three of the first five holes before ending the third round one stroke ahead of her closest challengers.

"He really kind of got in my face and got at me and let me have it," Stupples said of her caddie's timely advice on the first tee.

"He said: 'I know you're nervous. You're supposed to be nervous. This is what we're here for. You're playing great.

Let's go and do it, take it to the course, rip the drive down the fairway.' "It was pretty cool and he knew that I needed something like that," the 36-year-old Englishwoman said of her caddie Jerry Woodard. "And then I ripped it down the fairway. It was just what was needed. I needed that good kick.

"I was very nervous ... but surely that's why we all play golf?" added Stupples, who is aiming to add a second major title to her breakthrough at the 2004 British Open.

"It's a good buzz to be that nervous, because you know that you're doing well. If you're up there near the top of the lead, you should be nervous because that's what you work for really." Stupples, who has relished playing at Mission Hills Country Club since her first appearance in 2003, recorded six birdies and two bogeys for a four-under-par 68 on a layout running fast and firm.

She posted a 10-under total of 206 and will take a one-stroke advantage over Taiwan's Yani Tseng of Taiwan and Suzann Pettersen of Norway into Sunday's final round.

Asked whether she expected to experience another bout of nerves before teeing off, Stupples replied: "Honestly, I don't think they could be any worse than they were this morning.

"In a way, I'm excited about that fact because I know that I was able to play this morning. And so all that it will do is make me get out there and enjoy it. I'm more excited than I can tell you. I'm really excited by it."