American rookie Amanda Doherty, yet to land a top-ten finish, has held on to the lead at the World Invitational in Northern Ireland.

American Amanda Doherty birdied the last to lead for the third day in a row in the World Invitational at Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Northern Ireland.

She has just managed to retain the lead from Georgia Hall and Peiyun Chien, who played together and battled all day long, both carding 70s.

Doherty herself shot 72 to be 12 under, a shot clear of England's Hall and the 31-year-old from Taiwan.

Docherty, an LGPA Tour rookie who has yet to land a top ten finish, said: "I think overall it was a good day. I got off to a bit of a rough start and I hit a few crazy shots today and I managed to come back from that."

Doherty, 24, admitted that she's nervous heading into the final round.

"I'm excited. I'm a little bit nervous though. I would be lying if I wasn't," she said. "To me the nerves just mean that I care and that I'm excited, and it's just kind of good energy going into (Sunday)."

Australian Karis Davidson shot 69 to move to seven under, five shots off the lead. She in a five-way share of tenth. Stephanie Kyriacou is four shots further back after also carding 69.