Ochoa will take a six-shot lead into the final round

THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-6 L Ochoa (Mex)
Level L Wessberg (Swe)
+1 M Hjorth (Swe), JY Lee (Kor), K Icher (Fra), A Sorenstam (Swe)
Selected others:
+4 B Brewerton Wal
+5 M Reid am (Eng)
+6 K Stupples (Eng)

World number one Lorena Ochoa took command of the Women's British Open as wild winds sent scores soaring in the third round at St Andrews.

Ochoa carded a level-par round of 73 to lead on six under, six shots ahead of Sweden's Linda Wessberg.

Former world number one Annika Sorenstam could only manage a round of 77 and was in a four-way tie for third place on one over par.

Scot Catriona Matthew, who started the day in second place, carded an 80.

Round-up: Women's British Open day three

Interview: Mexico's Lorena Ochoa

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"It was just so tough," said Matthew who is now eight shots back on two over par.

"I made a bad start and never really got going. But I just hope it is better tomorrow."

Ochoa said she was determined to continue in the same vein on Sunday and hoped to stretch her advantage.

"I have a six-shot lead, so tomorrow I'm not going to pay attention to other players and just play my own game and try to be aggressive and make some birdies," Ochoa said.

I would think these were the toughest conditions in a major, maybe ever Annika Sorenstam

"I think once you try to start doing something different you get in trouble. I just want to play my game and hopefully, I can win maybe by more."

Sorenstam bogeyed four holes on the outward nine, but said she made a good recovery.

"I was just trying to be smart, hit fairways and greens and go from there," Sorenstam said.

"I believe I shot level-par the last 10 or 11 holes. I'll take that any time in a championship like this. I just didn't get off to a good start.

"But I would think these were the toughest conditions in a major, maybe ever. It's tough to drive, tough to hit irons, tough to putt."

Derbyshire's Melissa Reid was the best of the amateurs after shooting a 76 for five over par and was three ahead of her English colleague, Rachel Bell, in the race for the amateur salver.