Australian teenager Minjee Lee should be heading to US Open qualifying, instead she's lining up a maiden US LPGA Tour victory.

The former amateur world No.1 has a four-shot lead in the Kingsmill Championship but she was left with a nervous overnight wait to complete her final three holes when bad light stopped play on Sunday evening in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Lee, who only turned pro eight months ago, had surged clear with a blistering burst after a rain delay, picking up seven shots in nine holes with five birdies and an eagle to get to 16-under-par and lead from 20-year-old American namesake Alison Lee.

The 18-year-old from WA was scheduled to attempt US Open qualifying 85km away in Richmond on Monday but victory in the tournament would take care of that anyway, giving her automatic entry to that major championship.

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"Hopefully if I can get the win tomorrow then I won't have to go to the US Open qualifying," said Lee.

She will resume with a putt from off the fringe for another birdie and said she took her caddie's advice not to complete the 16th hole as she was entitled to do after the siren sounded to end play.

"He told me the green would be freshly mowed in the morning and I would be able to see the line better because it is getting pretty dark now," said Lee.

"Strategy-wise, I just want to play smart. Just take it as it comes and just play each shot to the best of my ability.

She attributed her position to a hot putting streak.

"I still have some work to do tomorrow, but I just kind of gave myself opportunities, played smart golf.

"I didn't do anything crazy - just my putts seemed to drop."

Five players are in a tie for third place a further two shots back - Norway's Suzann Pettersen, who shot a 68, plus Hyo Joo Kim, Paula Creamer, So Yeon Ryu and third round Perrine Delacour, who have all still to finish their rounds.