{"id":1245892,"date":"2023-07-09T02:03:56","date_gmt":"2023-07-09T02:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/nasa-hataoka-defies-pebble-beach-conditions-to-seize-us-womens-open-lead\/"},"modified":"2023-11-29T18:46:02","modified_gmt":"2023-11-29T18:46:02","slug":"us-womens-open-2023-r3-nasa-hataoka-defies-pebble-beach-conditions-to-seize-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/us-womens-open-2023-r3-nasa-hataoka-defies-pebble-beach-conditions-to-seize-lead\/","title":{"rendered":"Nasa Hataoka defies Pebble Beach conditions to seize US Women\u2019s Open lead"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nasa Hataoka produced a dazzling 66 in tough conditions to seize the third-round lead in the US Women\u2019s Open at Pebble Beach as England\u2019s Charley Hull kept her faint hopes alive.<\/p>\n

The Japanese leader, 24, shot a bogey-free 66 to finish on seven-under-par on a day when nobody else broke 70 and only 11 of the 74-strong field came home under par.<\/p>\n

American Allisen Corpuz fell out of a share of the lead with a bogey on the last with overnight leader Bailey Tardy and South Korea\u2019s Hyo Joo Kim two shots back, two ahead of Korean duo Jiyai Shin and Hae Ran Ryu \u2013 the only other players under par.<\/p>\n

Hataoka has lost in play-offs at two majors, including the US Women\u2019s Open two years ago.<\/p>\n

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\"US
The Japanese leader, 24, shot a bogey-free 66\u00a0(Darron Cummings\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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She said: \u201cAlthough circumstances may be different, I think some of the elements are still the same as they were versus two years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn other words, I have to go on all of those 18 holes, discuss with my caddie and work out what\u2019s the best for me, and enjoy my day tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two birdies on the front nine had seen Hull move under par, but she dropped two shots coming home before a birdie on the last saw her continue her daily improvement with a round of 71.<\/p>\n

She is tied for seventh on level par with American Angel Yin, seven strokes behind Hataoka and one ahead of a group including rookie sensation Rose Zhang \u2013 who won on her professional debut earlier this season \u2013 and former world number one Minjee Lee from Australia.<\/p>\n

Hull said she \u201cplayed solid all day\u201d and admitted having more to focus on at Pebble Beach than just the golf was helping her game.<\/p>\n

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\"US
Charley Hull, of England, hits from the 13th tee (Godofredo A Vasquez\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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She said: \u201cI struggle to concentrate on the golf course sometimes, so taking it all in, looking at the views, is helping a lot. There\u2019s such good views\u2026 I\u2019m really enjoying it out there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really looking forward to tomorrow. On this golf course, anything can happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like it when it\u2019s tough \u2013 when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.<\/a> That\u2019s what my dad always used to say to me.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

Ireland\u2019s Leona Maguire slipped back to two-over-par as she included two double bogeys in a 75, with England\u2019s Bronte Law tied for 14th a shot further back after a 72.<\/p>\n

Irish amateur Aine Donegan fired a third round 75 after a nine on the eighth derailed three early birdies but remained just inside the top 20 on four over.<\/p>\n