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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Japanese teen Nasa Hataoka shot a 3-under 69 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the third of five rounds in the LPGA Tour qualifying tournament.
The 17-year-old Hataoka had four birdies and a bogey on the Jones Course to reach 14-under 202 at LPGA International. She won a Japan LPGA major in October.
"It is cool to see my name at the top of the leaderboard," Hataoka said through a translator. "I don't want to get greedy, but I want to get to 20 under. I really want to work on my course management over the final two days."
The top 20 in the 90-hole event will earn full cards and the next 25 and ties will get conditional status.
Jaye Marie Green was second after a 67 on the Jones Course. The American won in 2013 at LPGA International at a record 29 under.
"My goal is definitely to win this," Green said. "With me and Nasa so close, I can focus on trying to beat her instead of looking at the whole top 20. It will definitely help take my mind off the top 20."
Iceland's Olafia Kristinsdottir was 9 under along with American Sadena Parks, Taiwan's Ssu Chia Cheng and Latvia's Krista Puisite. Kristinsdottir had a 67 on the Hills Course. Parks shot 67, Cheng 69, and Puisite 70 — all on the Jones Course.
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