Evian-les-Bains, France (Sports Network) - Mika Miyazato carded a 2-under-par 69 on Saturday to maintain her lead entering the final round of the weather- shortened Evian Championship.
Miyazato, who is seeking her first major championship, is 8-under-par 134 through 36 holes at soggy Evian Resort Golf Club.
"It's (a) pretty tough day for me," she admitted.
The season's fifth and final major was reduced to 54 holes after persistent rain rendered the course unplayable on Thursday.
Suzann Pettersen and 16-year-old amateur Lydia Ko , the last two winners on the LPGA Tour, shot 69 and 67, respectively, to share second place at 7-under 135.
World No. 2 Stacy Lewis, who won the Women's British Open this season, shot 67 and grabbed solo fourth at 6-under. Chella Choi (67), So Yeon Ryu (66) and Se Ri Pak (71) are tied for fifth at minus-5.
It appears defending champion Inbee Park's quest for her historic fourth major of the season will go unfulfilled, as the world No. 1 is 11 strokes off the lead at 3-over 145.
Miyazato went out with the morning wave and promptly surrendered her 1-stroke overnight lead when she bogeyed her first two holes.
From there, the 23-year-old righted herself, carding five pars and back-to- back birdies from the sixth to move back to 6-under for the tournament by the turn.
Miyazato was flawless during her inward nine, making birdie at No. 13 and another at the last to hit the clubhouse with the early lead, which held through the remainder of the day.
Pettersen, who won the Safeway Classic two weeks ago, also went out in the morning, off the 10th tee, and mixed four birdies with a pair of bogeys to remain in contention for her 13th career LPGA Tour victory and third this season.
"It wasn't a perfect round of golf, but I managed to put a score together and give myself a chance for tomorrow," she said. "I made a few key pars and tried to take advantage of good playing conditions."
Ko, looking to become the third amateur to win a major on the LPGA Tour, teed off in the afternoon and went bogey-free with four birdies. She repeated as champion at the Canadian Women's Open in her previous start, which marked her second LPGA Tour victory and fourth as a professional.
"I was one shot behind the leader, Caroline (Hedwall), at the Canadian Open," Ko said. "I'm the same I think behind Mika. But there are so many other people that are close. It's not like me and her playing. I just got to play my own game."
NOTES: Miyazato is seeking her second career LPGA Tour win, with her other coming at the Safeway Classic in 2012 ... Pettersen has nine top-10 finishes in her last 12 events, including four top-3 finishes in her last six tournaments ... Ko is attempting to join Pat O'Sullivan, who won the Titleholders Championship in 1951, and Catherine LaCoste, who won the U.S. Women's Open in 1967, as the only amateur major champions on the LPGA Tour.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.