Not even another storm delay in the Titleholders Championship could stop Becky Iverson, who stared down the hottest player in women's golf with a 6-under 66 and built a four-stroke lead today.

Iverson recovered from a wobbly start with three straight birdies to surge past Karrie Webb, then came back from a two-hour delay with two more birdies that gave her a 16-under 200 and a little breathing room for the final round.

Next up for Iverson is the No. 1 player in the women's rankings -- Annika Sorenstam, who made a 10-foot birdie putt in a downpour on the 18th for her third consecutive 68 that put her at 204 and in the final pairing Sunday with Iverson.

"That was a big putt," said Sorenstam, trying to win for the first time this year. "I thought the cup was going to be full of water."

Webb dashed off after a long day -- it began at 5:15 a.m. and ended about 8 p.m. as more lightning threatened on the horizon.

She had to finish the storm-delayed second round early Saturday morning, making two birdies in four holes to get to within one of Iverson.

Then she took a brief lead on No. 3 with a 10-foot birdie putt to go to 10-under. But Iverson, who missed the fairway and green on the first two holes and dropped one shot, made a 5-foot birdie on top of Webb to remain tied for the lead, then birdied the next two.

"I was nervous on the first two holes," said Iverson, whose only LPGA win came four years ago. "That got me going a little bit. I didn't play real well, but I made a lot of 20-footers."

Webb, meanwhile, suffered a minor case of the yips. She three-putted from 15 feet on No. 7, and missed two short par putts on the back nine that dropped her six strokes behind. But she also rallied strong after the delay with birdies on two of the last three holes.

Webb finished with a 70 and was at 205, along with Rosie Jones and Chris Johnson. Meg Mallon was another stroke back after a 67,

Nancy Lopez was in the hunt at 10-under until three straight bogeys starting on No. 15. She wound up with a 72 and was at 209, nine strokes back.

After three rounds in soft conditions, Iverson has already matched the LPGA International course record in the Titleholders at 16-under -- Webb had a 272 when she won in 1996. The tournament record is 271 set by Beth Daniel in 1990 when it was played at Killearn County Club in Tallahassee.

At this rate, the record likely will fall on Sunday.

"There's not one hole out there where you don't think about anything but birdie," Laura Davies said after a 66 put her at 9-under 207 and still with an outside chance.

It all depends on Iverson, whose lone LPGA victory came in the 1995 Friendly's Classic. She hasn't finished better than a tie for fifth since then, but it's hard to tell watching her play.

Her pace is quick, the swing confident. Best of all, she's putting like she may be difficult to catch.

"If you make birdies, you'll stay up there," Iverson said. "If you don't, a lot of people are going to pass you."

Iverson's only blip was a three-putt on the par-5 13th, but she answered that with a 15-footer from the fringe that she thought had come up short. Just like everything else over the past two days, it took one last turn and fell.

"I guess I'm going to have to chase Becky all day," Sorenstam said. "I've got nothing to lose."

DIVOTS: Val Skinner won a Mercury Cougar by making a hole-in-one on No. 17. Skinner used a 4-iron from 179 yards Saturday morning while finishing her second round. Helen Alfredsson aced the 14th hole in the afternoon, and Jane Geddes got a hole-in-one on No. 3. That makes five aces in the tournament. ... None of the five amateurs made the cut. The best was Kellee Booth at 1-over 145. ... Laura Davies has had problems putting the past few years, but she's not about to see Dave Pelz or any other short-game guru. "I'd rather struggle on my own," she said. "I'd hate to ahve someone help me destroy my game." ... Twelve mothers are among the 79 players who made the cut and will be playing the final round on Mother's Day. ... Becky Iverson lost the quarter she uses to mark her ball on the 13th fairway -- then three-putted the next green.