GB&Ire unless stated -9 Karen Stupples -6 Seol-An Jeon (Kor), Jeong Jang (Kor), Beth Daniel (US) -5 Laura Davies, Laura Diaz (US), Jung Yeon Lee (Kor), Rachel Teske (Aus), Annika Sorenstam (Swe), Natalie Gulbis (US), Heather Bowie (US), Paula Marti (Spa)

The 30-year-old English star followed Thursday's 65 with another bogey-free round to finish at nine-under overall.

Laura Davies is four shots behind her compatriot alongside defending champion and world number one Annika Sorenstam after a superb 68 at Sunningdale.

Stupples' nearest rivals, American Beth Daniel and Koreans Jeong Jang and Seol-An Jeon ended the day on six under.

The Kent player said she should have been further ahead of the field.

"It was a bit frustrating at times because I had a couple of opportunities, one on 9 and one on 10, to make birdie," Stupples said.

"I felt like I hit really good putts but they just didn't go in the hole.

"The one on 10 was like a dagger to my heart because it totally did a horseshoe round the hole."

Sorenstam was wayward off the tee

Sorenstam failed to capitalise on a three-birdie front nine that took her to within two strokes of the lead.

The defending champion failed to birdie a single hole on the back nine and picked up two bogeys instead for a one-under 71.

At five-under in a tie for fifth, she is still well in contention but was disappointed with her round.

"I missed fairways, I missed greens," said the player chasing her eighth major.

"Luckily I chipped really well. I made a good bunker shot at the last and made some good putts.