Juli Inkster’s bid to become the oldest major winner in women’s golf history was alive and kicking at Sunningdale on Saturday.Having handed over the lead in the Ricoh British Open to Japan’s Yuri Fudoh and Korean Jai-Yai Shin on Friday, the 48-year-old American started her third round eagle-birdie.

On the first of the par fives, Inkster, who won the first of her seven majors in 1984 before Shin was even born, hit her approach to eight feet and on the 489-yard next she almost chipped in from deep rough short right of the green.

Six pars followed to keep the mother of two 12 under par and one ahead of not only Fudoh and Shin, but also Fudoh’s compatriot Ai Miyazato and defending champion and world number one Lorena Ochoa.

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