Japan's Hinako Shibuno slogged through wet conditions in the third round of the U.S. Women's Open on Saturday to preserve a one-stroke lead in her bid to capture a second major title.
The 2019 Women's British Open winner carded a birdie and four bogeys on the rain-softened Cypress Creek course at the Champions Golf Club.
She finished with a 3-over-par 74 on the day, leaving her at 4-under going into Sunday's final round, when players will likely face more challenges from forecast bad weather.
"I started with this feeling of tension since I was in the lead. I felt like I was floating in the air going around all 18 holes carrying that tension in my body," said Shibuno, who bookended the round with bogeys.
"I played just well enough to maintain. I'm still at the top, so I give myself (a grade of) about 70," she said.
Only four players sit below par after 54 holes in the final women's major of the year.
American Amy Olson, the leader after the first round, shot an even 71 and trails Shibuno by one stroke at 3-under. South Korea's Kim2 Ji Yeong recorded the day's low score of 67 -- the only player to break 70 -- and surged up the leaderboard into a tie for third with Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn at 1-under.
Among the Japanese contingent to reach the weekend rounds, Nasa Hataoka, who has three wins on the LPGA Tour but has yet to claim a major, posted a 75 and fell to 6-over. Eri Okayama and Sayaka Takahashi both sit at 4-over in a group tied for 25th.
Shibuno, 22, became the second Japanese golfer and first in 42 years to win an overseas major when she won the Women's British Open last year while playing in her first tournament outside of Japan.
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