Sweden's Carin Koch stole the spotlight from Karrie Webb on Saturday with a third-round 67 that moved her into a tie for the lead with the Australian star going into the final round of the Nichirei Cup World Ladies golf tournament.
Koch birdied three of the first five holes to begin her charge and then picked up two more strokes on the inward nine on her way to a 9-under 207 total at the hilly Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club, setting up a showdown Sunday between the U.S. LPGA regulars.
Koch and Webb, the only players who had three consecutive sub-par rounds in the 72-hole event, are five shots in front of Chieko Amanuma and Aki Takamura, who share third place at 212.
"We'll be in the final group tomorrow and I want to give Karrie a fight. Being tied with her will give me a good start," said Koch, who is winless on the U.S. LPGA Tour while having six runnerup finishes.