Nasa Hataoka of Japan watches her drive on the third hole fairway during the third round of the LPGA Tour Championship golf tournament, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Naples, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

       NAPLES, Florida (Kyodo) -- Japan's Nasa Hataoka jumped 18 places on the leaderboard Saturday to grab a share of the lead heading into the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship, the final event of the LPGA Tour season.

       Hataoka had eight birdies, seven coming on the back nine, in a bogey-free round for the day's low of 8-under 64 at Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. She joins American Nelly Korda, South Korea's Ko Jin Young and France's Celine Boutier in a four-way lead on 14-under.

       Hataoka did not make a birdie until the ninth hole but stormed home in just 29 strokes to claim the clubhouse lead, her three-round total later matched by the other three players.

       "I felt good about my putts and got aggressive on the greens. Next thing you know, I fired five straight birdies and a final-nine 29 which even surprised me," said Hataoka, who will play with Korda and Ko in Sunday's final grouping.

       "I have a chance (to win) going into the final day so I want to play my own game and end on a good note."

       The season-long contest for Player of the Year will also be determined on Sunday.

       Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Korda, who has four victories this season and 191 points, and Ko, who has four wins and 181 points, are the only two who can win the title.

       Mexico's Gaby Lopez and Mina Harigae of the United States are one shot behind the leaders, in fifth.

       Filipino-Japanese player Yuka Saso again stumbled and carded her second straight 73. She sits in a tie for 40th place.

       The tournament champion wins the Race to the CME Globe and a $1.5 million first-place winner's check.

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