Home favourites Nasa Hataoka and Shiho Kuwaki will enter the final day of the Toto Japan Classic in a share of the lead, with Ireland's Stephanie Meadow sitting just outside the top 50 following a third-round 68.
Hataoka and Kuwaki sit on 20-under in Ibaraki after posting rounds of 66, but have fellow Japanese golfers Mona Inami (19-under) and Sora Kamiya (18-under) for company after they both shot impressive 65s.
Only Japan’s Chisato Iwai went lower, a run of five birdies from 13th to the 18th - her front nine - helping her to an eventual score of 64 to leave her nine shots within the lead.
FULL LEADERBOARD
Meadow is back on seven-under after her best round of the tournament, her 68 coming after rounds of 70 and 71 left her well off the pace.
Starting on the 10th tee, the Antrim golfer birdied 12 and 13 before a bogey at the 15th stalled her momentum.
It would be her only blemish of the day though with further birdies arriving at the first, second and sixth holes.
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Stephanie Meadow
Lpga Tour