South Korean golf star So Yeon Ryu was off to a lightning-fast start in the third round of the Women’s Australian Open on Saturday.

The US Open champion jumped two shots clear of her rivals when she picked up successive birdies at the second and third holes at Royal Melbourne.

Ryu moved to eight under the card, consolidating her one-shot overnight lead, to head compatriot Hee Kyung Seo.

Seo collected a birdie to stay within sight and retained outright second place at six under the card.

There was a vacuum from then on the leaderboard, with three players tied for third at three under par.

Americans Jessica Korda and Stacy Lewis and Paraguay’s Julieta Granada were all five shots off the pace.

Nikki Campbell was the leading Australian early in the round, bagging two birdies to move to two under the card.

Defending champion Yani Tseng, who had a forgettable second round, was fighting to stay in contention, but at one under par, had drifted well shy of the lead.