Golfers Kusuma and Yeom take control in Xiamen

On a day when the names atop the leaderboard changed numerous times, Thailand's Kusuma Meechai (67) and South Korean Yeom Hye-in (65) finished at 12-under par to share the third-round lead of the Xiamen Open International in China.

France's Gwladys Nocera, the overnight co-leader at the China LPGA Tour-Ladies European Tour co-sponsored event, was third two shots back after a 71. China's Yan Jing, the other co-leader going into the day, could only muster even-par 72 to sit equal fourth with Australian Stacey Keating (69) at three shots off the pace.

Defending champion Cheng Ssu-chia put herself in the mix when the Chinese Taipei teenager shot a 64 to match the Orient Xiamen course record set by South Korean Shin Ji-yai in 2006 to get within five shots of the lead. She was tied for equal sixth with Chinese Taipei's Lin Tzu-chi (68), American Beth Allen (69) and Dane Nanna Koertz-Madsen (66).

Starting the day four shots off the lead, Yeom quickly put herself into contention with a blazing front nine that included three birdies and an eagle three at the eighth hole to get to 10-under at the turn. Her hot hand continued on the back nine with consecutive birdies from the 10th hole, before dropping her only stroke of the round with a bogey five at the 14th hole. She rebounded to birdie the next before playing par golf back to the clubhouse.

"As soon as I didn't expect that I was going to play this good my irons shots were good and most of the putts I could make birdie. Today, everything was really great," said Yeom, a fifth-year professional.

With her best finish as a pro an equal sixth at last year's Hyundai China Ladies Open, Yeom said she wasn't even thinking about winning tomorrow.

"I don't want to think about it. I just want to focus on my play, like today and yesterday, and enjoy the group. If I win this event, I'll have really big confidence going back to play on the Korean LPGA Tour."

Kusuma overcame an erratic front nine that included four birdies and two bogeys, to post three birdies on the back nine to move into contention for her second China LPGA Tour win.

"My irons, short game and putting was really good today," said the 20 years old, winner of the 2013 Wuhan Challenge. "I'll just enjoy my game tomorrow and not think too much."

Rising star Cheng, a four-time winner against professional fields as an amateur but still looking for her first win since turning pro late last year, had eight birdies, including five straight starting from the 11th hole. She had 24 putts on the day in what was her personal best round.

"I'm really happy with this score today and looking forward for tomorrow. I was really struggling the last two days and I thought I can play even better than my score," said the 17 years old. "This year I haven't had really good scores in a round, so it definitely gives me some confidence."

Sui Xiang was the top amateur as the Chinese teenager shot 70 to sit equal 21st, nine shots off the lead.