Corning, N.Y. ? When the putts stopped falling, Catriona Matthew didn’t panic.

Matthew shot a 5-under 67 Saturday, rallying with a birdie at No. 17 after consecutive bogeys to take a two-stroke lead over Lorie Kane into the final round of the LPGA Corning Classic.

Matthew, who started the day tied with Kane at 12 under, was at 17-under 199 and within reach of the tournament record of 20-under 268.

Kane was alone in second after a 69. Meg Mallon and Hall of Famers Juli Inkster and Beth Daniel were another shot back at 202.

Helen Alfredsson was alone at 203, Wendy Ward and Soo Yun Kang were tied at 204, and two-time Corning champ Rosie Jones was at 205.

“There could be a lot of action tomorrow,” Mallon said. “I think you have probably 10 to 12 people that have a chance to win.”

A steady rain pelted the course most of the morning, but by the time the leaders were halfway through the front nine it was barely sprinkling. And with the players allowed to lift and place on the soft grass, the scores stayed low over the 6,082-yard Corning Country Club course. Fifty-five of the 81 players who made the cut matched par or beat it.

Kane opened a two-shot lead over Matthew after a birdie at No. 6. But Matthew, a native of Scotland, rallied with birdies at Nos. 8 and 9 to forge a tie for the lead at 16 under.

Matthew followed with birdie at the par-5 12th hole and pitched to 4 feet at No. 14 and for another easy birdie to open a three-shot lead.

Then she almost came undone, three-putting from 15 feet on each of the next two holes.

A 15-foot birdie at the par-4 17th hole restored some confidence.