Australian teen star Minjee Lee's hopes of a second consecutive LPGA Tour title slipped in a tough third round at the Swinging Skirts Classic.
Playing on the Lake Merced course where she won the US Girls Championship in 2012, Lee went into the third round tied second after a 65 on Friday but she battled to a two-over 74 in cool breezy conditions.
It left last week's Lotte Championship winner tied eighth with world No.1 Lydia Ko, but they were six shots behind the leader, Haru Nomura, who shot 71 to reach 10-under.
The 23-year-old Nomura has her sights set on a second career LPGA Title to go with the Australian Women's Open crown she won in February.
Ko, the two-time and defending champion, shot a 73 and hadn't given up hope of claiming victory on her 19th birthday on Sunday.
"My game wasn't really up to it today," Ko said. "It was pretty average. But I felt like chipping, short game-wise it was good.
"I wasn't making the putts that needed to go in for birdie or those crucial par saves. ... I've just got to stay positive."
South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace (69) and South Korea's Na Yeon Choi (71) were tied for second.
"Obviously, the conditions are going to be the same tomorrow probably, a little cooler, I think," Pace said. "But just the same thing. On a course like this you have to play on the right side. You have to stay below the hole keep it in the fairway and on the greens."
Choi won twice last year and has nine LPGA Tour victories.
"It was tough," Choi said. "I think especially the greens were so firm and a lot of holes have front pins, so it's hard to stop the ball around the pin. ... I like chasing, so I feel great about this tournament and this week and about my game. I have confidence, so just keep playing aggressive."
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