Local favourite Aki Iwai has shot a six-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Japan Classic, with Australia’s Hannah Green still within striking distance.
Iwai is one shot clear of Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who carded the day’s lowest round of 65 on Saturday at the Taiheiyo Club north of Tokyo.
Yubol is looking for her first victory on the LPGA Tour.
Iwai picked up her first LPGA win last year in the Standard Portland Classic.
Green kept herself in with a shot of victory with a fine third round.
After opening with a 70, the Aussie has improved each day, following her second-round 69 with a four-under 68 that featured five birdies and only one bogey.
Heading into the final round, Green is at nine under, six shots behind Iwai’s 15-under total.
Of the other Australians in the field, Robyn Choi is even with the card after a third-round 72, while Minjee Lee is 15 over after carding a 79.
Youmin Hwang of South Korea and Erika Hara of Japan were two shots behind the leader after both shot 68.
Defending champion Nasa Hataoka closed with a 72 and is in a group of four players three shots behind Iwai.
Hataoka, the leader after two rounds, won the event last year in a playoff in a rain-shortened tournament.
The Japan Classic is the last of four tournaments in the LPGA’s so-called late-season Asian swing.
– With Associated Press
