Miyu Yamashita ran off three consecutive birdies on the back nine Friday, carding a 5-under 67 to move into solo second at the TOTO Japan Classic. The 25-year-old from Japan sits at 11-under 133 with 36 holes remaining at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course in Omitama, Ibaraki, Japan, as she chases a second straight LPGA Tour victory.

Yamashita began the day in a three-way tie for the lead and now trails only countrywoman Nasa Hataoka, who posted the day’s low round, an 8-under 64, to reach 12-under 132. Ana Belac of Slovenia and Japan’s Fuka Suga share third at 10-under, and nine players sit within three strokes of Hataoka.

Starting on No. 1, Yamashita opened with four straight pars before rolling in a birdie at the par-4 fifth. She added another at the par-5 ninth to make the turn in 2-under 34.

The round turned after a par at No. 10. Yamashita birdied the par-4 11th, the par-5 12th and the par-3 13th in succession to climb to 11-under, then picked up her sixth birdie of the day at the par-3 16th to reach 12-under. Her first bogey of the week came at the par-4 18th, ending a 35-hole bogey-free stretch to open the tournament. She signed for an inward 33 with six birdies, one bogey and 11 pars.

Few players have been hotter this fall. Yamashita successfully defended her title at the Maybank Championship last week, finishing at 22-under 266 for her third win of 2026. That victory followed a solo third at the LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei in October and a T8 at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G in September.

This week marks her 22nd start of the season. Her 2026 victories also include the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give in June and the CPKC Women’s Open in August, where she opened with a season-low 62. She entered the week second in the Race to the CME Globe standings and is No. 4 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

The 2025 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year owns five career LPGA Tour titles, including the 2025 AIG Women’s Open, her lone major championship. Before joining the Tour, she won 13 times on the JLPGA Tour and was its Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023.

Her results at this event have improved each time out. She placed T12 at 10-under in 2024 and finished solo third last year at 14-under.

With Hataoka one stroke ahead and a crowded leaderboard behind her, Yamashita will look to turn her steady form into a fourth victory of the season when the third round begins Saturday.

Miyu Yamashita Sits Solo Second, One Back at TOTO Japan Classic

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