Harukyo Nomura shot a 6-under-par 66 and was tied for third when the second round of the Coates Golf Championship was suspended due to rain on Thursday.
New Zealand's Lydia Ko, who had a hole to go before the call-off, is a stroke ahead of Nomura alongside South Korea's Jang Ha-na, who was unable to start her round. Nomura was one of a handful of players who were able to finish.
Starting the day in 38th, Nomura carded three birdies on the front nine and four more after the turn at the par-72 Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club. She suffered a late bogey on No. 17, when the rain began to fall to leave her at 6-under-par 138.
"My putts were going in and my shots were good too," said Nomura, who was top after the second round last week at the Pure Silk Bahamas Classic, where she finished in a tie for 13th. "If I can keep going like this I should finish well."
Sakura Yokomine was tied for seventh at 4-under par with three holes remaining in her second round. Mika Miyazato (2 under) has yet to start her round, while Ai Miyazato shot a 68 to finish the second round at 1-over-par 145 following a difficult first round.
"I got the feel for the green from around No. 9," said Ai Miyazato, who admitted a day earlier she was feeling heavy. "I believe managing to combine my reading of the greens with my touch with the putter was the reason I improved my score."
Ayako Uehara, at even par, is slated to begin her second round on Friday.