Michelle Wie is poised for a run at a second straight Canadian Women's Open title.
Wie shot 68 in the third round Saturday to take a share of the lead at 12 under 204 going into what could be rain-soaked final round.
She is tied with former world No. 1 Ai Miyazato and American Tiffany Joh. Wie won the tournament last year at the St. Charles club in Winnipeg. The last repeat winner was Pat Bradley in 1985 and 1986.
Rookie Joh had the low round of the day of 65 at the par-72 Hillsdale Golf Club. Miyazato shot 68.
Angela Stanford dropped a stroke when she put a tee shot into a creek on the 17th and was one shot back at 11 under 205 in a tie with Brittany Lincicome, who shot 69.
There were five players at 10 under 206 -- Cristie Kerr (69), Jiyai Shin (69), Na Yeon Choi (69), Becky Morgan (70) and Song Hee kim (71).
There is some doubt that the final round can be completed as piece of Hurricane Irene is due to descend on the area some time Sunday.
Start times have been moved up 90 minutes to 7 a.m. ET, they wil play in threesomes instead of twosomes, and will start from both the first and tenth tees to try to get the round over by 2 p.m., when the full storm is expected to hit.
If the round cannot be completed, Wie, Joh and Miyazato will go into a playoff wherever a dry enough hole can be found.
Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., was low Canadian at 8 under 208 after a 67, which put her into a tie for 13th place, four strokes off the lead. Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., and Lisa Meldrum of Montreal are at 3 under.
"Coming into the tournament, I liked the way I was playing and hitting the ball, so I felt I had as good a chance as anyone," the 22-year-old Leblanc said.
