Japan's Nasa Hataoka plays a shot on the third round of the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic in Otsu, Shiga prefecture, Japan Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Yuna Araki plays a shot on the third round of the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic in Otsu, Shiga prefecture, Japan Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Nasa Hataoka reacts after making a birdie on the fifth hole on the third round of the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic in Otsu, Shiga prefecture, Japan Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Miyu Yamashita plays a shot on the third round of the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic in Otsu, Shiga prefecture, Japan Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Nasa Hataoka plays a shot on the third round of the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic in Otsu, Shiga prefecture, Japan Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Yuna Araki plays a shot on the third round of the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic in Otsu, Shiga prefecture, Japan Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Nasa Hataoka reacts after making a birdie on the fifth hole on the third round of the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic in Otsu, Shiga prefecture, Japan Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Miyu Yamashita plays a shot on the third round of the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic in Otsu, Shiga prefecture, Japan Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
OTSU, Japan (AP) — Japanese golfers Nasa Hataoka and Yuna Araki sat atop the leaderboard after Saturday's third round of the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic.
Hataoka has shared the lead in each of the first three rounds, with different golfers each time.
Hataoka shot a 4-under 68 and Araki was in at 7-under 65 — both at 15-under 201 — at the Seta Golf Club in western Japan.
Three more Japanese players were just off the pace going into Sunday's final round. Miyu Yamashita, who won the in Malaysia last week, carded a 68 and was one stroke behind. She was followed by Shuri Sakuma (69), who is three back, and Ai Suzuki (70), four off the lead.
Defending champion Rio Takeda, who has not been in contention all week, had a 68 and was nine shots behind.
Minjee Lee of Australia, one of the highest profile players in the field, was 14 behind the leaders after a 74.
