Overnight co-leader Kaori Higo pulled away from an elite field on the Japanese women's circuit after a third-round 66 on Saturday, taking a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Japan LPGA Tour Championship.
Higo made three birdies in a four-hole stretch from No. 9 and capped her flawless round with a birdie-birdie finish at the Hibiscus Golf Club as she went 12-under-par 204 through 54 holes in the JLPGA's season-ending event.
"I was able to judge distances properly both on the fairways and greens. I missed some makeable putts but I'm fully satisfied with the score," said Higo, currently third on the money list behind Yuri Fudo and Chieko Amanuma.
Kasumi Fujii and veteran Ikuyo Shiotani both shot 69s and moved into a tie for second at 8-under 208. Michiko Hattori, the other second-round joint leader, dropped to fourth at 210 after a 72.