From the moment she shot a course-record 65 in the second round, everything pointed towards Karrie Webb retaining the US Women's Open title here in North Carolina.
The Australian world No 2 was one of the lucky few to reach the halfway stage before thunderstorms washed out play and she could happily sit back and watch everyone else toil in the heat and fail to match her five-under-par halfway total.
Feeling fresh, she then wandered her way through the pine trees, hit 69 shots and ended a day that had been a gruelling marathon for so many as a comfortable five-shot leader and odds-on favourite to become the seventh player in the event's 56 years to successfully defend the most prestigious title in the women's game.
South Korea's Se Ri Pak, who played 34 holes lay in second place on one under par, while Scotland's Catriona Matthew emerged from Saturday's 36-hole, 15-hour stint with impressive rounds of 68 and 70 to slip into outright third place on level par.
Leading third-round scores (US unless stated): 204 - K Webb (Aus) 70, 65, 69; 209 - S R Pak (Kor) 69, 70, 70; 210 - C Matthew (Brit) 72, 68, 70; 211 - J Inkster 68, 72, 71, W Doolan (Aus) 71, 70, 70, Y Fudoh (Jpn) 73, 68, 70; 213 - AJ Eathorne (Can) 67, 71, 75, K Kuehne 70, 71, 72, S Turner 72, 70, 71, C Kerr 69, 73, 71, Dottie Pepper 74, 69, 70; 214 - J Moodie (Brit) 71, 70, 73, A Burks 70, 72, 72, S Gustafson (Swe) 74, 66, 74, K Albers 71, 69, 74, B Daniel 73, 70, 71; 215 - W Ward 70, 71, 74, A Sorenstam (Swe) 70, 72, 73, A Nicholas (Brit) 73, 70, 72, L Kane (Can) 75, 68, 72, G Park (Kor) 76, 70, 69, M Redman 70, 72, 73, D Delasin 75, 70, 70.
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