Kotone Hori shot a 5-under 67 to earn a share of the lead with fellow teenager amateur Haruka Morita after the second round of the Cyber Agent Ladies on Saturday.
Hori, who started the day tied for fifth, two strokes back of overnight leader Ayaka Watanabe, carded six birdies against a lone bogey for an 8-under 136 total at Tsurumai Country Club in Chiba Prefecture.
Morita had five birdies and four bogeys for her second straight 4-under round.
South Korea's Shin Ji-yai, the tournament's 2010 champion and a four-time tour winner, was one stroke back of the youngsters in third. Yuki Ichinose was another shot behind in fourth.
Watanabe had a 73 to sit at 4 under in a tie for sixth with another amateur, 16-year-old Kana Nagai.
Kim takes control
Togo, Aichi Pref. — Kim Hyung-sung of South Korea will take a two-stroke lead into The Crowns' final round after shooting an even-par 70 on Saturday.
Kim, who started the day in a tie for the lead with defending champion Michio Matsumura, had two birdies and two bogies.
The 33-year-old Kim, looking for his third win on the JGTO tour, finished with a three-day total of 9-under 201 on a day that saw Ryo Ishikawa momentarily surge to the top of the leaderboard, only to blot his scorecard with three back-nine bogeys to settle for a share of third with South Korea's I.J. Jang (72).
Tomohiro Kondo (69) was alone in second at Wago Course, while Ishikawa, who was 3 under at the turn, finished with a 70.
Matsumura stumbled to a 4-over 74 to fall into a three-way tie for fifth at 5 under.