Stephanie Meadow and tournament leader Akie Iwai both produced their worst round of the Lotte Championship in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, although Iwai was able to hold onto her lead.
The 23-year-old Japanese player shot a 1-under-par 71 in the third round at Hoakalei Country Club, ending up at 13-under 203 for a one-stroke edge.
Meadow however, dropped down the leaderboard after a disappointing round of 75 that saw her drop to -2 and a share of 54th place.
Three consecutive bogeys on the 5th, 6th and 7th saw Meadow make the turn in 39 and although she rallied briefly with back-to-back bogeys on the 11th and 12th, she dropped two further shots on the final two holes.
Second-round leader Youmin Hwang of South Korea shot a 75 in the third round, leaving her in an eight-way tie for second at 12 under.
Hwang is level with Meghan Khang (third-round 67), Brooke Matthews (69), Jessica Porvasnik (72), Japan's Minami Katsu (66), South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim(66), Taiwan's Peiyun Chien (68) and Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum (69).
Nelly Korda (69) and Japan's Nasa Hataoka (71) share 10th place at 11 under.
Iwai led after shooting 64 on Wednesday, and she followed that up with a 68 on Thursday. On Friday, she opened with a birdie but ended the day with three birdies and two bogeys.
She earned her initial LPGA Tour win in August at the Portland Classic, and she has four top-five finishes this year.
Looking ahead to the fourth round, Iwai said, "No change. Keep going. Yeah, I have just smiling and just fun, have fun. ... I forget what happened today and(get) ready for tomorrow."
Katsu birdied three of her first five holes, and she added a run of three birdies in four holes on the back nine immediately after making her lone bogey of the day at the par-3 12th hole.
"I feel like my (putter) today was working really well, even though it has some bad shots," said Katsu, an eight-time winner on the LPGA of Japan Tour who is seeking her first win on the US-based circuit.
"I think I was able to keep a good par save on with my putting. I had a pretty long birdie putt, too, so I felt like that kept my momentum going today."
