South Korean Jiyai Shin led by three with a round to go in the Ricoh Women's British Open at Hoylake.
It was a 36-hole final day after Friday's play was wiped out because of 60mph gusts and 2008 winner Shin resumed with a five-stroke advantage.
That came down to one after 10 holes, but she then had a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th for the second day running.
Australia's three-time champion Karrie Webb matched that and with another birdie on the par five last was only two behind, but Shin chipped to three feet for a matching four.
She was round in 71 to Webb's 68 and both had only a few minutes' break before they were teeing off again for the final round.
Shin's compatriot Inbee Park was in third place, but six behind.
The wind had really picked up as the final round began and the scores went soaring immediately. For the opening three holes the last six groups - 18 players - were a cumulative 49 over par.
Shin was among those to struggle as she triple-bogeyed the first after a wild drive, but it did not dent her title hopes too much.
That was because Webb double-bogeyed it and bogeyed three of the next five to fall five behind.
Shin was a massive seven in front after sinking birdie putts of 22 and 18 feet at the sixth and seventh.
She did bogey the next but, as the weather turned really nasty again, she parred the next two to remain on course for victory.
Webb, out in 40, shared second place with Japan's Mika Miyazato on two under, but the course was becoming almost unplayable once more.
Play did have to be suspended with balls moving on a green during one fierce gale, but the delay was for only eight minutes.
After another 18-foot putt at the 13th Shin was seven clear of Webb and 10 clear of the rest.
