The 24-year-old from Linkoping fired a third-round at National Golf Club to remain on target for her first Ladies European Tour victory on four-under-par.

Her nearest challenger, Spain's Paula Marti, the 2002 order of merit winner, also returned a 73 to lie four over.

Wahlin matched three birdies with three bogeys to increase her overnight lead by one after Gwladys Nocera and Emma Zackrisson both carded 81 and slipped down the leaderboard from tied second to a share of 17th.

"Of course I'm happy with my lead but it's not over," said Wahlin. "If it was another course then maybe I would feel comfortable but I don't here.

"I'm just going to keep on playing as I've done for three days."

Tournament officials shortened the course by 138 yards over four holes before the start of the third round in an attempt to improve the scoring.

"It was so much shorter," added Wahlin, who is a long hitter. "The par fives, I think I had an eight iron and a wedge into two of them compared to a lay-up shot so that was a big difference.

"The greens are so much firmer than before and quicker too so you have to be very careful on your wedges and chips."

Marti, who won two LET titles in 2001, moved into second despite a double bogey at the 12th hole, three bogeys and five birdies.

She said: "This is the hardest course I've ever played. It's harder than the British Open."