Miyuu Yamashita carded her best round of the women's Olympic golf tournament on Friday, with the Japanese player's 4-under 68 putting her two shots behind the leaders.
After picking up one shot on the Le Golf National front nine, Yamashita made a move on the back, going three under with birdies on the 10th, 15th and 18th.
Day-two leader Morgane Metraux of Switzerland eagled the final hole to finish the day at 1-under and in a share of the lead with Lydia Ko, a New Zealander who won medals, one silver and one bronze, at the first two Olympic golf tournaments in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
The other Japanese player in the field, Yuka Saso, shot even par to remain at 7-over, tied for 42nd.
Yamashita hit 10 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation in the third round and then converted with her putter.
"My shots were in control and I was able to make the putts I wanted on the back nine, so I'm glad," she said.
"I made birdie putts from good distances, so I was able to play the round with a good flow."
With 18 holes left to play, Yamashita is aiming to go one or two better than her countryman and Paris bronze medal-winning men's player Hideki Matsuyama on Saturday, hoping to join Tokyo Games silver medalist Mone Inami in winning a women's golf medal for Japan.
Related coverage:
Olympics: Japan's Miyuu Yamashita remains in hunt for women's golf medal
Olympics: Matsuyama earns men's golf bronze as Scheffler takes gold
