Miyazato builds 3-shot lead at LPGA Lotte Championship

AP Photo/Eugene Tanner

Ai Miyazato, of Japan, watches her drive of the second tee in the third round of the LPGA LOTTE Championship golf tournament at Ko Olina Golf Club Friday, April 20, 2012, in Kapolei.

Japan's Ai Miyazato shot a steady 2-under 70 today in difficult conditions to hold a three-shot advantage after the third round of the LPGA LOTTE Championship.

The seven-time tour winner is in at 10-under 206 and leads Spain's Azahara Munoz and American Cristie Kerr, who are tied for second at 7-under 209. Miyazato went 29 holes without a bogey to build a comfortable advantage, before two on the closing nine brought her back to the pack in gusty conditions at the Ko Olina course.

Munoz overcame five bogeys to shoot a 1-over 73. Kerr went as low as 8 under before bogeys at 12 and 14 left her at 1-under 71 for the day. The top-ranked American had four birdies on her card.

Current world No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan and U.S. Open champion So Yeon Ryu of South Korea had the day's best rounds at 3-under 69 and are part of a logjam at 6-under 210.

Joining them are South Korea's Jiyai Shin and Meena Lee, and American Angela Stanford. Shin went as low as 4 under for her round, before a double bogey at the par-4 15th slowed her charge. She still managed a 2-under 70 as the tradewinds continued to blow hard across west Oahu.

Lee, who won on this course at the 2006 Fields Open, carded a 71. Stanford also has a win in Hawaii at the 2009 SBS Open at Turtle Bay. She closed with a birdie to shoot a 2-under 70.