Overnight leader Orie Fujino shot a level-par 72 Saturday to stay one shot clear at the Japan LPGA Championship and keep on track for her first major title on the Japan circuit.
Despite an inconsistent round featuring four birdies and four bogeys, Fujino remained at the top of the leaderboard after the third round on 7-under 209, one clear of South Korean veteran Ku Ok Hee in second.
Ku, who won last week's Fujisankei Ladies Classic to record her 20th Japan LPGA victory in almost two decades on the tour, carded a 71 to move into second place on 210.
Last year's runnerup Toshimi Kimura is tied for third two shots back on 211 together with Mikiyo Nishizuka.
Imano leads by one
INZAI, Chiba Pref. (Kyodo) Joint first-round leader Yasuharu Imano shot a 1-under-par 70 Friday to take the sole lead after two rounds of the Suntory Open.
Imano, who had three straight birdies from No. 3, had a double-bogey on the par-5 eighth before wasting a string of chances to increase his lead on the back nine and finishing the day at 7-under 135 at the Sobu Country Club.
Keiichiro Fukabori (66), who returned from a broken rib, and defending champion Shingo Katayama (68) are one stroke back in a tie for second. Overnight co-leader Hiroyuki Fujita (72) slipped into fourth with a 5-under total.