The Associated Press

NORTH PLAINS, Ore. - Hilary Lunke responded to the increasing nerves of the U.S. Women's Open with a clutch par and a lucky bounce for birdie, putting her one round from the biggest prize in women's golf.

Lunke shot a 3-under 68 for a one-stroke lead over Angela Stanford. Along with the Sunday pressure, both will have to deal with a familiar name in contention.

Annika Sorenstam, starting the third round eight shots out of the lead, had only the second bogey-free round at Pumpkin Ridge, a 4-under 67 that shot her up the leaderboard and into the second-to-last group today, three behind.

"I know how to react under these conditions," Sorenstam said. "I'm happy where I'm at. I would like to be in my shoes tomorrow and play my golf."

Lunke, an LPGA Tour rookie who has never finished in the top 20, birdied three straight holes on the front nine to take the lead and finish at 5-under 208.

Stanford, coming off her first LPGA win last week in the ShopRite Classic, was one of four players who had at least a share of the lead at one point.

"I started to realize what was going on," Stanford said.

She recovered with a beautiful pitch into 3 feet for birdie on the last hole and a 69, putting her in the final group with Lunke. Stanford said it will help calm her nerves to play with a former Curtis Cup teammate.

"Still, this is the U.S. Open," Stanford said.

It sure played like one on the Witch Hollow course, which has become increasingly penal with each round and was tough even under the overcast skies.

Just as surprising as two untested players at the top was the demise of Mhairi McKay, who squandered a four-shot lead, and defending champion Juli Inkster.

McKay lost her lead after four holes and continued to put approach shots into the bunker and struggle with her putting. She finished with a 75 and was at 2-under 214, along with Sorenstam, Jeong Jang (69) and 17-year-old Aree Song (68).

Inkster started strong with two birdies on the first four holes to take the lead, and she was only one behind as she made the turn.

Then, the seven-time major champion bogeyed four of the next five holes and wound up with a 74, leaving her six shots behind.

"I just had some bad shots out there," Inkster said. "My swing didn't feel that bad. You know, I've got one more round out there tomorrow, and I know I can play well out there."

Lunke looked like the pressure was catching up to her with two straight bogeys on the back nine that dropped her to 4 under.

She was long on the par-3 15th but holed a 10-foot putt to save par, then hit a fairway metal that hopped out of the rough, caught a ridge and stopped 3 feet away for birdie.

Inkster was among 10 players within six shots of the lead, which might not be much considering the lack of experience at the top.

Then again, Sorenstam changes the dynamic. "She's the best player in the world, and you expect the best player in the world to show up Sunday," Stanford said.

WIE RETRACTION: The father of 13-year-old Michelle Wie retracted claims that Danielle Ammaccapane pushed his daughter, saying Saturday there was no contact during the first round.

"Michelle just told me that her description of the incident was incorrect," B.J. Wie said. "There was no pushing or physical contact."

B.J. Wie, also his daughter's caddie, said Friday that Ammaccapane pushed or bumped Wie on the 14th hole. He said the 16-year LPGA Tour veteran later berated the teenager in the scoring tent, which he described as "nasty."

He did not correct his characterization but said he no longer would discuss the matter because he wasn't there.

Michelle Wie shot a 5-over 76 Saturday and declined comment.

This is her first Women's Open.