Harukyo Nomura was a stroke behind the provisional leaders at the Coates Golf Championship on Friday, when play was suspended due to darkness.

Nomura, one of the few players to complete her second round when rain washed out much of Thursday's play, carded one birdie and one bogey through six holes in the third round after teeing off late in the afternoon.

Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Jang Ha-na of South Korea were the provisional third-round leaders.

Although Nomura looked a little tight standing in the tee box at No. 1, she loosened up chatting with Ko, who sits atop the world rankings. Nomura bogeyed her first hole but pulled back a birdie on No. 5.

Sakura Yokomine, who finished the second round in ninth place, suffered an immediate setback on Friday, opening with back-to-back double bogeys and another bogey on No. 4. Back-to-back birdies on Nos. 6 and 7 improved her score to 1 under at the turn, when play was stopped.

Ai Miyazato, with four holes remaining in her third round, was at even par, while Mika Miyazato was at 2 over after nine holes.