Kaori Higo shot the day's best score of a 1-under-par 71 to take a share of a one-stroke lead with three others going into the final round of the 60 million yen Saishunkan Ladies on Saturday.
South Korean Lee Ji Hee, winner of last week's Promise Ladies, carded a 73, while Kozue Azuma and Sae Takamura shot a 74 and a 75, respectively, to join the lead at the Kumamoto Kuko Country Club course.