Nasa Hataoka relinquished her lead and dropped to fourth in the qualifying school for the U.S. LPGA Tour on Saturday, shooting a 3-over-par 75 as she reached the final round.
The 17-year-old had a rough day on the same par-72 course where she shot a 65 two days earlier, carding three birdies against four bogeys and one double bogey following a lost ball on the par-5 14th for a four-round total of 11-under 277, sitting three strokes behind leader Jaye Marie Green of the United States.
"I opened my body up too early when hitting shots. The green was also faster compared with the second round," said Hataoka, who needed three putts in the 18th for a bogey.
In October, Hataoka became the first amateur and youngest player to win a major tournament on the Japan LPGA tour at the Japan Women's Open and turned pro a week afterward.
The final qualifying school features two preliminary rounds over two different courses before a final round of 18 holes Sunday. The top 20 players will be able to play in the majority of LPGA tournaments next season.