Overview
- Shibuno Hinako returned to a previous pin‑shaped putter before the tournament and recorded just 24 putts in early rounds, a change she credited for steadier play and confidence on the greens.
- After two rounds Shibuno stood at 3‑under and in third place, one stroke behind the leader, following key birdies and a composed par save on the par‑5 17th.
- Sora Kamiya surged with a 68 in round two to reach 2‑under and ninth place, while other Japanese players including Ayaka Furue and Yuri Yoshida advanced to the final rounds.
- On round three Nasa Hataoka climbed to 4‑under and into the top five, placing her roughly two strokes off the lead and tightening the leaderboard among top contenders.
- With several Japanese golfers tightly bunched near the top, the final rounds at Riviera will hinge on putting and short‑game execution and will determine whether the contingent can challenge for the title.