Saturday February 27, 2010, 04:58 PM

Veteran American Juli Inkster and Japanese star Ai Miyazato are joint leaders after the third round Saturday at the 1.3-million-dollar HSBC Women's Champion's tournament in Singapore.

The duo are three-under for the day as they fired a 69, giving them a seven-under total of 209 at the LPGA's second tournament of the year.

Two shots back are Japan's Momoko Ueda (68) and South Korea's Park Hee Young (69), You Sun Young (71) and Han Hee-Wong (71).

American Cristie Kerr (71), Taiwan's golden girl Yani Tseng (71) and Norway's Suzann Pettersen (72), three shots behind the joint leaders, are also well placed for a run at the title during the fourth round Sunday.

Miyazato, in sparkling form since after starting the season with a win in Thailand last week, made her move with a 12-metre putt for eagle at the 16th hole to tie with Inkster at seven-under overall.

The 24-year-old Japanese star, who began the third round tied for second, started strongly with birdies on the first two holes but bogeyed the third and ninth.

Miyazato said it was "hard work out there because pin positions were really tough but I had a really good start because I made birdie (on) the first two holes. But after that, I stayed patient... trying to make really safe play."

The hot conditions, which affected some of the other players, hardly bothered the Japanese star.

"I am from Okinawa, where it's very hot so I'm used to the heat," she said.

Asked what a win Sunday would mean to her, Miyazato said: "This tournament feels like a Major so I really want this title and it will be a special title if I can win this."

Inkster, who was also tied for second at the half-way mark, made four birdies but bogeyed the fourth hole in what was otherwise another steady display from the 49-year-old American.

A seven-time Major winner and mother-of-two, Inkster is looking for her 32nd LPGA title and first since 2006 as she heads into Sunday's final round.

Should she she lift the trophy Inkster will become the LPGA tour's oldest winner yet.

Despite her vast experience, Inkster downplayed her chances but said she would give it her best shot.

"Ai won last week... She's got the best experience because she won last week," said Inkster.

"So I'd say, right now, I'm definitely the underdog. I don't think anybody expects me to win but I'm going to go out there and give it a shot."

South Korea's defending champion Shin Ji-Yai is tied for 15th after posting a 72 for 214, five shots adrift of the co-leaders.

Mexico's Lorena Ochoa, the world number one, finished the round one-over, leaving her tied in 42nd spot at a four-over total of 220.

© 2010 AFP/sid