Japan’s Ai Miyazato defied difficult, windy conditions to post a two-under 70 on Friday and take a three-shot lead after three rounds of the LPGA Lotte Championship.
Miyazato, a seven-time LPGA Tour winner, had a 10-under total of 206, three shots in front of American Cristie Kerr and Spain’s Azahara Munoz — who had shared the lead with Miyazato after the second round.
Karrie Webb finished the day with a one-under 71 to be the best placed Australian at 213 – seven strokes behind Miyazato.
Kerr carded a 71 while Munoz posted a one-over 73 on the Ko Olina course.
Miyazato said the wind had blown consistently for three days, but even though it was predictable, it was hard to deal with.
“It’s still tough to play out there,” Miyazato said.
“I said to myself to just stay focused.”
Kerr, a 14-time LPGA Tour winner, moved as low as eight-under during the round before losing momentum with two back-nine bogeys.
“I think I played pretty solid,” Kerr said.
“I had some putts on the front that I misread.”
World No.1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan, who has won three of the first six LPGA tournaments of the year, was at six-under 210, along with US Open champion So Yeon Ryu, former No.1 Jiyai Shin, Meena Lee and Angela Stanford.