DORSET'S Georgia Hall takes a two-shot lead into the final round of the Cambia Portland Classic in Oregon.

The Wimborne-based 22-year-old added a three-under 69 to her first two rounds of 66 and 63 and will bid for her second win in a month when she tees off today at 2.05pm (10.05pm BST).

Hall, crowned British Open champion last month, will again play alongside Australia's Minjee Lee, with $195,000 up for grabs for the winner of the tournament.

Despite opening with a bogey at the par-four first, Hall bounced back with birdies at five, six, 16 and 17.

She told the LPGA website: “You know, 16 and 17 are tough holes, especially with both pin positions, so I was very happy to hole some putts because I didn't really hole much today.

“I didn't start amazingly, but the pin positions were probably the toughest of the week so far, so three-under, and… the wind got up a bit, so yes, I'm happy with that… and I've got a two-shot lead. There’s still a lot of golf to play, but I'm looking forward to tomorrow.”

Hall and Lee have separated themselves from the pack as Marina Alex, who is in third, is six shots behind the 2013 British Amateur champion.

“It's fun. I treat it a bit like match play, which I love, and it was similar at the British Open," added Hall.

"But I just think it's a lot more exciting and I'm really excited for me, as well, so I look forward to it. I'm sure Minjee is looking forward to it, as well.

“I definitely putted yesterday like I did at the British Open. Hopefully, I'll putt like that tomorrow as well. But I still feel the same and I'm just looking forward to playing another round of 18 holes."

Hall, who is in her rookie year on the LPGA, won the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit in 2017 before finishing tied for seventh at the LPGA Tour final qualifying tournament a year ago.

Since turning pro in July 2014, Hall has won more than £1million in prize money, including more than $665,000 this year.

GEORGIA HALL'S PORTLAND CLASSIC STATS

  • This is the first time in her career she has held the solo lead heading into the final round 
  • Hall’s 54-hole score of 198 ties the tournament’s 54-hole scoring record, set by Brooke Henderson in 2017
  • Hall’s 36-hole score of 129 is the lowest in Cambia Portland Classic history, beating the 130 returned by Pornanong Phatlum in 2013
  • Her 129 is also the lowest 36-hole in Hall’s career, beating the 135s she shot on three previous occasions, most recently en route to victory at the 2018 Ricoh Women’s British Open
  • Hall’s second-round 63 is one off the tournament record, which has been returned four times, including on Thursday by first-round leader Marina Alex
  • Her 63 is also the best single round of her LPGA career, beating the 66s she shot in the final rounds of the 2017 and 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
  • Hall is playing in her first Cambia Portland Classic
  • This is Hall’s 17th event of the 2018 LPGA season. She won the Ricoh Women’s British Open for her first career LPGA win and has one other top-10 finish
  • Hall will represent England at the 2018 UL International Crown and was a member of the European Team at the 2017 Solheim Cup
  • Hall is a 2018 LPGA rookie and sits second in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings, 388 points behind Jin Young Ko, who is not in the Portland field. A win would earn Hall 150 points