Midori Yoneyama shot a 71 Saturday in the second round of the Friskies Osaka Women's Open for a 4-under 140 to move one clear of the field going into the final day.
Yoneyama, looking for her second successive victory after picking up the Apita Circle-K Sunkus title last week, carded five birdies and four bogeys at the Hanna Country Club to stay ahead of Kaori Harada and Taiwan's Huang Yu Chen in second.
"I tried to do too much at the wrong times," Yoneyama said, showing her disappointment with her inconsistent play.
Huang equaled the best round of a drizzly day, sinking five birdies after dropping a shot on the opening hole for a 68.
Overnight leader Mayumi Murai dropped back into a tie for fourth at 2-under 142 with Junko Omote after carding a 75.