Nasa Hataoka heads into the final round of the TOTO Japan Classic feeling the same way she did when she won the last time on home soil. Nervous.

Ahead of the final round at Seta Golf Course's North Course, where Hataoka won in 2018, she's tied atop the leaderboard with the JLPGA's Yuna Araki and looking to go wire-to-wire for her second victory at the TOTO Japan Classic. Hataoka carded rounds of 65-68-68 to hold a share of the 54-hole lead for the third time at the Japanese Tour stop.

"Front nine, I played really solid today, but I was unable to make birdie chances on the back nine," said Hataoka, who racked up five consecutive birdies on the outward nine on Saturday. "I made a great birdie on 17, so yeah, I played solid today."

Hataoka leads the field in birdies through the first three days of competition with 20, and she's going to need to make several more to separate herself from the field come Sunday. However, that could be a tall task, as adding to what will already be a challenging final round, rain is forecasted for the last day of competition.

"I think it's going to be greens softer, so I need spin control, and distance control is a key tomorrow," Hataoka said ahead of Sunday's round. "I will do my best."

Those anxious feelings Hataoka had en route to victory in Japan in 2018 proved to be more of a help than a hindrance as she managed to pull off a two-stroke victory for her second career win on the LPGA Tour in her native Japan.

Seven years later, Hataoka is more than familiar with managing the emotions that come with trying to win an LPGA Tour event, as she looks to chase down her seventh career win on Sunday. And as if the task of trying to win in her home country of Japan wasn't enough of a challenge with her friends and family looking on, she'll be looking to return to the winner's circle for the first time in three years.

Hataoka's last win on the LPGA Tour came in Los Angeles in 2022. And although she's threatened the lead countless times since then, getting over the hurdle on Sunday will be no easy task, especially while still trying to work through changes to her swing both off and on the course in the midst of competition.

"My swing feels getting better," Hataoka said after the third round in which she missed just two fairways and the same number of greens. "My key is to shift to the left, so I am working on that thing on the course, too."

Hataoka has been trending towards a win in 2025 with an impressive seven top 10 finishes so far this year, five of them coming in just her last seven starts. If she can continue to work through her evolving swing changes, while also managing the emotions, expectations, and, of course, the nerves that come with trying to win, Hataoka could become the 28th different winner this season on the LPGA Tour and sixth different player from Japan to hoist a trophy this year.

"I will be nervous," Hataoka said, looking ahead to Sunday. "But, I want to enjoy my golf."

Hataoka will play in the final group on Sunday along with Araki and Miyu Yamashita, who is already a two-time winner this season on the LPGA Tour and trails Hataoka and Araki by a single stroke with 18 holes to play.

Hataoka Looks to Return to the Winner's Circle with a Win at Home in Japan

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