World No.1 Lydia Ko endured a day to forget, as six bogeys saw the New Zealander card a disappointing four-over 75, meaning she is 19 shots off the leader Chun.
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Chun was the overnight leader, with Park second and Shanshan Feng – China’s only major victor – two shots further back.
Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand had a bad day, making six bogeys in a 4-over 75, and was 19 shots behind Chun in a tie for 36th.
But unruffled, Chun hit back in style with birdie at the 11th and then her hole of the day came at the 15th, where she chipped in from 20 yards for an eagle there.
“But I just have to stick with my game plan”. The last two were mere pars.
“I’m happy because I try to more enjoy my game because it makes more pressure for me”.
A double bogey on the ninth was the only blemish on Chun’s otherwise flawless scorecard and the 22-year-old now has her eye on the all-time lowest score recorded at a women’s major.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and Australian Jason Day jointly hold the major record at 20 under.
She recovered with birdies on the seventh and ninth but two more dropped shots on the back nine left the 19-year-old well out of contention.
The New Zealander made a awful start in damp conditions, carding bogeys in four of her first five holes.
Chun has a four shot advantage over fellow Korean young gun Sung Hyun Park, her compatriot signing for a 4-under 67 to get to 15-under.
The 27-year-old said: “I made a couple of bogeys in the start of the back nine, but then I talked to my caddie”.
More rain was forecast for Sunday’s final round, and tee times were moved forward by a couple of hours.
And she reached 19 under on the leaderboard in Evian-les-Bains on Saturday courtesy of a six-under third round of 65.
Chun, the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open champion, had six birdies and an eagle for the round.
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So Yeon Ryu of South Korea reacts after playing on the 16th hole during the third round of the Evian Championship women’s golf tournament in Evian, eastern France, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016.
