Ahn picked up birdies on the third, fifth, 13th, 15th and 16th holes before parring the last to finish with a round of 69 to lead the tournament at five-under par.

However, television crews reported that she had used her feet to move the sand down the side of the bunker at the 18th in an effort to get her feet on the same level, and after reviewing the footage, officials deducted two shots off her score to leave her tied in second place with Suzann Pettersen of Norway and China's Feng Shanshan.

"It's disappointing but it's my mistake," said 26-year-old Ahn.

"I still have a day to go and I have to stay focused and try my best tomorrow.

"The ball was placed on a very upslope lie, so it was hard to make a stance.

"So what I was trying to do was fix a stance but after the review it was determined that I used my feet to try to make an even lie.

"But you know, my intent wasn't to break the rules.

"It was just to set my feet firm in the sand just to be able to make the shot.

"But if that's the rule, there was no intent and I can't do anything about it."

Sun-Ju Ahn got into trouble at the 18th hole at Royal Birkdale which saw her incur a two-stroke penalty from tournament officials ©Getty Images




Four-time major winner Park put herself in contention with her best round of the week as she shot 68 to claim the outright lead on four-under par.

"The first two days I didn't hit the shots well enough to get the results I wanted but today my ball striking was great and I didn't miss any greens," she said afterwards.

After missing last month's Women's US Open with a back injury, Pettersen showed she is finding form at the right time as she also went round in 68, picking up four birdies and an eagle at the 17th.

Overnight leader Mo Martin endured a torrid day as she tumbled down the leaderboard after shooting a five-over par round of 77, while fellow American and defending champion Stacy Lewis remains in the hunt at one-under for the tournament, three shots off the lead.

Suzann Pettersen has recovered from recent back trouble to put herself in the hunt going into the final day's play at Royal Birkdale ©Getty Images



Lewis is joined by England's Charley Hull who carded the best round of the day, signing for a 66.

The 18-year-old began the day 11 shots off the lead and looked to be well out of contention after opening with two consecutive bogeys but she recovered to sink nine birdies to leave her as the only realistic hope of a home winner.

"I can still win it if I have a good day tomorrow," said a confident Hull.

"If the wind gets up tomorrow, even par could win it."

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