The game has always been there but now Kathryn Norris has the belief to go on and claim victory at the Webex Players Series South Australia at Willunga Golf Course.

Norris shot 6-under 64 – equal to the low round of the day – in Saturday’s third round and will start the final round in a share of second and just one stroke off the lead.

She briefly held a share of the lead with Victorian Ben Eccles (65) at 10-under before Queenslander Brett Rankin (65) claimed the 54-hole lead at 11-under-par.

Even par through her first eight holes, Norris played her final 10 holes in 6-under to set a new career-best round on either the WPGA Tour of Australasia or Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

Drawing confidence from narrowly missing the cut at last week’s WA Open where she was the only female professional in the field, the 23-year-old believes that her confidence has finally caught up with her ability.

“My game was always had the potential to be there but golf’s not just about technique, it’s about your head space, too,” said Norris.

“I’ve definitely improved in my head space but that’s just come from experience and growing and learning.

“My game was always there, I just never really had the confidence. I’ve turned that around now.

“I just keep telling myself, I’ve just got to keep making good golf swings and then the rest will take care of itself.”

Despite making a bogey out of the blocks – “It’s a tough start. I wasn’t too worried” – Norris was soon in red figures with birdies at three and four. She fell back to even par for her round with a bogey on eight but it served to fuel her impressive run home.

“After I made a bogey on eight, it kind of fired me up a little bit,” said Norris.

“I thought, no, if you want to get in contention, you’re going to have to start being a bit more aggressive. And I did.

“I hit a couple more close and cashed in on them.”

New Zealand’s Hanee Song (70) and Danni Vasquez Boyd (71) are both tied for 30th at 2-under-par, Coffs Harbour’s Amelia Mehmet-Grohn (72) tied for 45th.

It leaves Norris to lead the charge with the potential to join Hannah Green, Sarah Jane Smith and Min A Yoon as women to have won a Webex Players Series event.

“If I play like I did today and hole some putts, which obviously is tricky out there, I can definitely be in the mix,” said Norris.

“It’s obviously there. See how I handle it and see what goes my way.

“I’m sure a lot of the girls will be cheering me on because it is hard work. We don’t hit it that far. And even with our head starts, we’re still struggling to keep up with the men.

“I’m sure I’ll have some backing.”

Willunga local and defending champion Steve Alderson (75) has a two-stroke lead in the Webex All Abilities Players Series SA event while Billy White (72) and Malachy Murphy (72) share a four-stroke lead over the field in the Webex Junior Players Series SA tournament.

The final round will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo  from 1pm-6pm AEDT on Sunday.