Thitikul’s pair of bogeys were offset by five birdies after 15 holes at the Club at Carlton Woods near Houston, putting the twice LPGA winner within striking distance of a maiden major title.

Yin recovered from a bogey on the very first hole to birdie the par-5 fourth and was level par for the round and 10 under total with the six holes to play.

The outing was far less smooth for her compatriot and previous co-leader Allisen Corpuz, who bogeyed four times on the front nine and produced a single birdie on the par-5 eighth. She was tied for sixth through 12 holes.

Players adapted to a demanding and unfamiliar course at the year’s first major, as the tournament kicked off in a new home after some five decades at Mission Country Club in Palm Springs.