Los Angeles (AFP) - South Korea's Kim Hyo-joo had two late birdies to maintain her three-shot lead Friday in the third round of the LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii.
Kim, 26, posted an even-par 72 at Hoakalei Country Club for a 10-under-par total of 206 going into Saturday's final round.
She was three strokes clear of American Brianna Do and Japan's Hinako Shibuno.Do matched the low round of the day with a five-under-par 67 while Shibuno signed for a 68.
It was a further stroke back to Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow and South Korean Lee So-mi, who both carded 69s for 210.
Kim, the world number 13 whose four LPGA titles include a major triumph at the 2014 Evian Championship, opened the day with a three-shot lead that dwindled with her bogeys at the seventh and 12th.
But she birdied the par-four 14th and almost holed out for an eagle from a greenside bunker at 18.
"It was very important because it was a matter of over-par or not," she said of her finishing birdie."I had a chance at the 16th hole, but I missed so I was a little angry.Now I feel much better since I made a birdie on the last hole."
Kim said the windy conditions were difficult.
"There was a lot of wind going back and forth," she said."I think it was difficult because it was not specifically (in one) direction."
Do, chasing a first LPGA title, got off to a hot start with birdies at her first three holes, finishing with six birdies and one bogey.
Shibuno surged late, with birdies at the 10th, 11th, 14th and 17th in a bogey-free effort.
Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who won last year at Kapolei before the tournament moved this year to Hoakalei, carded a one-over 73 that left her at one-over for the tournament and tied for 33rd.
