Hinako Shibuno produced a late charge to lead after the third round of the AIG Women’s British Open at Woburn.
The 20-year-old from Okayama city picked up four shots in her last five holes to storm home in 30, posting a 67 to lead by two on 14-under-par.
Ashleigh Buhai led by three overnight and was five clear of Carlota Ciganda after 10 holes, but she dropped three shots at the 12th, 13th and 16th for a third round 72.
Sung Hyun Park lies in third, with Morgan Pressel, world No.1 Jin-Young Ko and Lizette Salas in a share of fourth.
Ciganda is tied for seventh on nine-under-par with England’s Bronte Law and Charley Hull, who are all five shots adrift.
Defending champion Georgia Hall slipped back to four-under and 10 shots back after a third round 74.
Ciganda looked set to challenge but double bogeyed the narrow tree-lined 18th hole on the Marquess course, after hitting her tee shot right into a rhododendron bush, from where she tried to advance the ball and then took an unplayable drop, slipping back to nine-under.
Buhai made a strong start with two birdies on the front nine and birdied hole 10 to get to three-under, but admitted that she was rattled by a three-putt bogey on the 12th and ran out of steam. She said afterwards: ‘I made a great sand save on 14 and then a bogey on 16, but I hit some good shots on 17 and 18, which steadied me out. I think it helps being two behind because there’s not as much pressure.’
Shibuno, who is playing outside Japan for the first time, went out in one-over but carded six birdies on the back nine.
In a press conference after her round, she said, though translation: ‘I was pretty upset after the three-putt bogey on the ninth, but after the second shot on the 10th hole, I was able to bring myself back.
‘It’s definitely exceeding my expectations. I came here wanting to make the cut, so right now I feel like I’m doing something incredible’
Shibuno is a rookie on the JLPGA Tour, and in May, won the Salonpas Cup, a major on the JLPGA Tour. She added a second victory in July at the Shiseido Anessa Ladies Open. Last year, she played on the developmental Step Up Tour.
