Japan's Haru Nomura shot a third round of 71 on Saturday, 23 April, to maintain her three-stroke lead in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.

The Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic continued on Saturday at the Lake Merced Golf Club in San Francisco, California.

Japan's Haru Nomura started the day three shots ahead of the chasing pack.

She rolled in for birdie at the fourth to extend early in her round.

World No.1 Lydia Ko started the day six shots off Nomura and she picked up a shot at the fourth.

However a -1 round 71 left her tied for 8th at 4-under par.

Canadian Brooke Henderson was one of the big movers on Saturday carding a 3-under 69 and she now sits in fourth at 5-under.

South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace recorded her second-straight round of 69 to move into a share of second place at seven under. Pace entered this week coming off back-to-back top-15 results.

She is tied with Na Yeon Choi, Choi had an up-and-down round with five birdies and four bogeys for a 71.

Pace and Choi will look to take the challenge to Namura who is looking to become the first Japanese player to win twice in a year since 2012.