Hataoka delivered the best round in the toughest conditions on Saturday for a six-under 66 to get to seven-under and hold a one-shot advantage from American Allisen Corpuz.
The Japanese star not only posted the low score of the championship, she played bogey-free on a day Pebble Beach dished out big numbers without much warning. Her 66 was nearly nine shots better than the field average.
More important, it left the 24-year-old on track for her first major title. Hataoka has lost play-offs at two majors, including two years ago to Yuka Saso at the U.S Women’s Open up the California coast at Olympic Club.
Corpuz was right there with her until the end, when she caught a plugged lie in the bunker that runs along the ocean wall on the 18th. She had to pitch out to the fairway and missed her 15-foot par putt.
Corpuz had a 71 – one of just 10 players…