Webb ready to strike

Four-time champion Karrie Webb moved into a prime position to clinch her fifth Handa Women's Australian Open title with a 3-under par 70 in the third round at the Commonwealth Golf Club.

Webb, who will be aiming for back-to-back wins following her success in Queensland, fired a bogey-free round which included birdies on the first, sixth and 13th holes.

"I am playing really solidly. Today there were some pins that you should not try to get to. I think the course will be set up just as challenging tomorrow. It is a bit more of a thinker's course than last week," Webb said.

"I'm surprised that some of my best golf has come after such a long lay-off. This is the first time in many years that I have played four in a row. I feel I have a good one left in me," she added.

The Queenslander said she felt tired during the week but chastised herself during her round.

"At 14 I hit a poor iron shot and a poor bunker shot and gave myself a kick in the pants. I told myself to stop feeling sorry for myself because I was a little bit tired," Webb said.

Overnight leader Giulia Sergas finished with a 2-over par 75 but kept pace with the leaders and is one stroke behind Webb going into Sunday.

"I had to work really hard and I did. I had a couple of holes where I played some good shots, made good pars, and that kept me going for a little bit."

Defending champion Laura Davies sits two strokes behind Webb in outright third following her 2-under par 71 and said the finding the fairway paid premium dividends.

"If you are off the fairway, you are going to be in trouble. If you are just off the green, it is not easy. Fairways and greens in the first round, I found the whole golf course was pretty easy. There were no dramas. For the last two days there were plenty of dramas," Davies said.