Aki Iwai carded a bogey-free 6-under 66 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Toto Japan Classic in Omitama.
Iwai moved to 15-under 201 with three birdies on the front nine and three on the back at the Taiheiyo Club Minori Course north of Tokyo. The 24-year-old from Japan is looking for her second LPGA Tour title and first since winning The Standard Portland Classic in August 2025.
“So many spectators here and I’m so glad because … they always show me so much love all the time. And then I got confidence. That’s why I’m glad,” Iwai said.
Right on her heels is Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who shot the low round of the day with a 65 to move to 14-under. Yubol had one bogey and eight birdies, including birdies at three of the four par-3 holes.
Yubol, 24, has her family in the gallery this week as she looks for her first LPGA Tour victory.
“First thing first, I love Japan,” Yubol said. “Also my dad and mom and brother are here, so I would say whole family here is kind of special week for me.”
Japan’s Erika Hara (68 on Saturday) and South Korea’s Youmin Hwang (68) are tied for third at 13-under.
Hwang, a 23-year-old LPGA Tour rookie, hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation and finished with six birdies and two bogeys.
“Today the winds were strong but I played well so I’m happy,” Hwang said. “Sometimes in the final round I have a tendency to be timid so I want to play tomorrow aggressively and work on that.”
Second-round leader and defending champion Nasa Hataoka of Japan shot a 72 to slip into a tie for fifth at 12-under with countrywomen Yuna Araki (66), Shuri Sakuma (69) and Sayaka Takahashi (69).
Hataoka endured an eventful finish on Saturday with bogeys at Nos. 13, 15 and 18 and an eagle at the par-5 17th.
She won last year’s rain-shortened 54-hole tournament with a final score of 15-under after beating Araki in a playoff.
Six players are tied for ninth place at 10-under.