Japan’s Yuna Araki and Nasa Hataoka share a one-shot lead at 15-under heading into the final round of the LPGA’s Toto Japan Classic.
Araki carded a 7-under 65 and Hataoka posted a 4-under 68 in Saturday’s third round at Seta Golf Course in Otsu in western Japan.
Three of their compatriots round out the top five, with Miyu Yamashita (68) at 14-under, Shuri Sakuma (69) three behind the leaders and Ai Suzuki (70) four strokes back.
Defending champion Rio Takeda (68) of Japan is nine shots behind.
Hatoaka has shared the lead through each of the first three rounds, with different golfers each day. She had five birdies and one bogey on Saturday.
“Yeah, front nine I played really solid today, but I was not able to make birdie chances on back nine,” Hatoaka said. “But I made a great birdie on 17, so, yeah, I play solid today.”
Rain is in the forecast for Sunday’s final round.
“I think it’s going to be greens softer, so, yeah, I need to spin control then distance control is key tomorrow,” Hataoka said. “So, yeah, I will do my best.”
Araki strung together five straight birdies from Nos. 2-6 before a bogey at the par-4 ninth hole. She added three more birdies on the back nine, including the par-5 finishing hole.
“Overall I had a good round, but especially from second hole I had a good shot and it kind of began a good flow,” she said through a translator. “So overall I had a lucky birdie on 16 as well, but, yeah, I’m happy with today’s round.”
A 20-year-old rookie on the LPGA of Japan Tour, Araki recorded her first professional win on that circuit in September.
“I can’t imagine that I’m winning this tournament at the moment,” Araki said. “This is U.S. tour which kind of I have been dreaming of, so it’s going to be indescribable.”
Yamashita continues her strong form after winning the Maybank Championship last week in Malaysia. She had three birdies and a bogey on the front and the same results on the back nine in Saturday’s loop.
“There were some long putts that wouldn’t go in so the afternoon some shots rolled it the left which wasn’t good,” she said through a translator. “Overall, I finished last hole with a birdie so that was a good finish.”
