PORTLAND, OREGON (AFP) - Former women's golf world No. 1 Tseng Ya-ni, trying to end a 17-month title drought, fired a nine-under-par 63 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead at the LPGA Safeway Classic.

The 24-year-old from Taiwan owns 15 LPGA titles and spent 109 weeks at world No. 1 - a run that ended in March - but she has not made it to the winner's circle since a triumph in the Kia Classic in March last year.

However, she looked like her old, dominant self on Saturday. Her 54-hole total of 198 broke the tournament record of 199 set by Swedish great Annika Sorenstam in 2002, when the event was played over three rounds.

Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum, who led after each of the first two rounds, carded a 71 and shared second on 201 with Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, who posted a 70.