Pettersen moves into three-stroke lead

(CNN) -- Norwegian Suzann Pettersen birdied the last two holes to finish with a five-under 67, which gave her a three-stroke lead after three rounds of the Wegmans tournament at Locust Hill, New York.

Pettersen, one behind 36-hole leader Morgan Pressel at the start of her round, had to contend with a 72-minute lightning delay in the middle of the afternoon.

By then, the 27-year-old Solheim Cup player had already claimed three birdies in 11 holes to move in front.

Pettersen returned from the wait in the clubhouse to record a pair of pars and then picked up shots at the long 17th and the par four 18th, and closed on 14-under 202..

Pressel also birdied 18 and her 71 gave her a share of second place with South Koreans Eun-Hee Ji, who had six birdies and an eagle in a career best 64, and Inbee Park, who shot 69.

World number three Pettersen won the Swiss Open on the European Tour last month, and has had three top 10 showings this season, including a tie for second in the first major of the year at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April.

"The key this week is that I've been more patient," Pettersen said. "I actually feel I'm playing better than last year and I've been close to winning (in America) a few times.

"But I've been working on one or two things in my game and so I wasn't really expecting too much this week. But it's nice to be in the lead going into the final day. I just hope the weather is a bit better."

Defending champion and world number one Lorena Ochoa moved into the top 10 by firing a 68, her best round of the tournament. Her outstanding moment was sinking a 15-foot putt for eagle at 17.

Michelle Wie, who tied for sixth in last month's German Open on the women's European Tour, followed a brace of 71s with a 73 to be one under but Annika Sorenstam could only manage a 72.