Nov. 27, 2009 (The Yomiuri Shimbun) -- Overnight joint leader Momoko Ueda shot a 2-under-par 70 Friday to take a one-shot lead over Sakura Yokomine (71) and Yukari Baba (68) going into the third round of the season-ending Japan LPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup.
U.S. LPGA regular Ueda, aiming at taking her first major title, sank four birdies against two bogeys for a 5-under 139 total at the par-72 Miyazaki Country Club in Miyazaki Prefecture.
Yokomine, who would capture her first money title with a win on Sunday, reeled in five birdies against four bogeys, while Baba kicked off her round with an eagle on the 582-yard, par-5 No. 2 hole and added two birdies in a flawless round.
Defending champion Miho Koga carded a 72 for the second straight day to finish the day tied for fourth place along with South Koreans Lee Ji Hee (70), Jeon Mi Jeong (70) and money leader Shinobu Moromizato (69).
Chie Arimura, who also has a chance to win the money title should she win, shot a 70 and sat in a five-way tie for eighth that included U.S. LPGA star Ai Miyazato.
Ueda, the 2007 money queen, has been struggling all year but she seems to have recently regained some confidence and is focused on playing one shot at a time.
"While the media and fans' attention is on who will win the money title, I just want to play my own golf and try to stay in contention," said Ueda, who has played in 11 JLPGA tournaments this season and who captured the AXA (NYSE:AXA) Ladies title.
"If you can pick up even one shot on the difficult front nine, that's OK. I think you have to go for birdies on the back nine. Under this plan, I'll aim at 4-under-par tomorrow," Ueda said.
Said Yokomine: "You'll have at least one bad day if you keep playing four days. Today was that day. But four under after playing 36 holes is not so bad. I'll focus on playing my golf as if tomorrow is the first day." ===
2 share top spot at Casio World
Tour veteran Shigeki Maruyama and defending champion Komei Oda lead the Casio World Open by two shots after two rounds in Kochi Prefecture.
Both fired 7-under 65s on Friday for the day's best score and a 12-under 132 total.
The 40-year-old Maruyama, who returned to the Japan GTO Tour this season after a 10-year stint on the U.S. PGA Tour, made it 12 birdies from the opening 36 holes at the par-72 Kochi Kuroshio Country Club.
Long-hitting Oda carded eight birdies against a lone bogey.
Overnight leader Yusaku Miyazato shot a 69 for a share of third place along with teen money leader Ryo Ishikawa (66), Shingo Katayama (68), Katsumasa Miyamoto (67) and Tetsuji Hiratsuka (67).
Yuta Ikeda, chasing Ishikawa by about 7 million yen in the money title race, carded a 70 and was tied for 25th at 5-under 139.
