Otsu City — Japanese golfers Nasa Hataoka and Yuna Araki are at the top of the leaderboard after the third round of the LPGA TOTO Japan Classic on Saturday.
Hataoka has shared the lead in each of the first three rounds with a different golfer.
Hataoka had a 4-under 68, and Araki had a 7-under 65, and both finished with a 15-under 201.
Three more Japanese players were slowing down heading into Sunday’s final round. Miyu Yamashita, who won the Maybank Championship in Malaysia last week, shot a 68 and was just one stroke behind. Juri Sakuma (69) is in the back three, followed by Ai Suzuki (70) with a four-way lead.
Defending champion Rio Takeda, who has been out of contention all week, shot a 68 to move within nine strokes.
Australia’s Minjee Lee, one of the hottest players in the field, scored 74 points, leaving her 14 behind the leader.
