Top guns ready to duel at Buick Championship

The Buick Championship is set for a final-round duel as the star players, China's Feng Shanshan and South Korean Choi Na-yeon, each shot 70 on Saturday to sit deadlocked at nine-under 207 atop the leaderboard through 54 holes.

American Beth Allen (71) was two shots back at the US$600,000 tournament, a co-sponsored event between the China LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour, while England's Florentyna Parker (71) was fourth a shot further back.

China's Zhang Weiwei (71) and England's Georgia Hall (71) were equal fifth at the tournament being played at Shanghai Qizhong Garden Golf Club, four shots off the pace. Ji Yifan was the top amateur as the 15-year-old Henan native carded a 74 to sit in equal eighth at six shots back.

As Choi carded four birdies through the first 11 holes to get to 11-under, world No. 10 Feng stayed patient in the windy conditions after faltering early. Starting the day tied with Choi at seven-under, the China No. 1 dropped her only stroke of the day when she carded a bogey four at the second hole.

Feng then got her game going with a birdie four at the ninth, before picking up further strokes at the 11th and 15th holes. As she attempts to get her first win of the year Sunday, the Guangzhou native was saying little about her game plan for the final round.

"I will focus on my game tomorrow and still not look the leaderboard like I did before. I know there are so many fans on the course to support," said the 26-year-old, a winner of 15 tournaments worldwide.

"I think every player will feel the pressure like me. I'm not worried about the fans following on the final day, just play my game."

Choi, winner of the 2012 US Women's Open, said she was happy to see her name atop the leaderboard after recording late bogeys at the 13th and 18th holes in the windy conditions.

"As professionals we have more experience to deal with the tough conditions. It was especially tough on the back nine today. They will be tougher tomorrow, the temperature will be lower. Today I had to have my patience out there and try to focus on one or two simple things. (Tomorrow) I have a chance to do better," said the 28-year-old, a nine-time winner on the US LPGA Tour.

"I was in the US for a long time. Last week, I stopped in [South] Korea and met my coach. We tried different things and swings to make improvements. So I have more swing thoughts today. Hopefully I can do better tomorrow, keep it simple."

Allen, winner of last year's ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters, kept in the hunt when she sank a 25-foot putt for birdie at the 17th hole.

"It was a solid day with tough conditions, and a completely different wind to yesterday. It was tricky," said the 34-year-old California native. Endit