TOYOURA, Niigata Pref. (Kyodo) South Korean tour veteran Kim Jong Duk opened up a four-shot lead after shooting a 6-under-par 65 in the third round of the NST Niigata Open on Saturday.
Kim, who was one stroke in front of Kazuhiro Kinjo after two rounds, began the day with an eagle on the par-5 opening hole and added six birdies against two bogeys on his way to a 17-under 196 at Forest Golf Club.
Kinjo, winless since turning pro in 1993, had a solid round of 3-under 68 for a 13-under 200.
Fudo makes move
BIBAI, Hokkaido (Kyodo) Yuri Fudo put herself in position to win back-to-back tournaments and a fifth title of the year after shooting a 1-under-par 72 in the second round of the Golf 5 Ladies on Saturday.
Fudo had three birdies and two bogeys en route to a 1-over 147 at the Alpen Golf Club, taking a one-shot lead over junior high school student Kumiko Kaneda.
A victory Sunday will be Fudo's 30th in her career and make the 27-year-old only the sixth player to earn a lifetime exemption on the Japan LPGA tour.