Chasing first major title, Amy Yang takes 2-shot lead into final round of KPMG Women's PGA

SAMMAMISH, Wash. — Amy Yang shot a 1-under 71 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship as she chases her first major victory.

Yang was at 7-under 209 at Sahalee Country Club, remaining steady around the greens on the tree-lined course that requires utmost accuracy and precision.

''I grew up watching so many great players in the past, and I saw them winning all the major championships, ''Yang said. ''I dreamed about playing out here because of them. I work hard for this.

"It'll mean a lot, but we still got 18 more holes out there and that's a lot of golf left for major championship.''

The 34-year-old South Korean player has five LPGA Tour victories, the last in November in the Tour Championship.

Lauren Hartlage and Miyu Yamashita were tied for second at 5 under.

Hartlage shot her second straight 69 for the only bogey-free round of the day. The American is winless in three seasons on the LPGA Tour.

Yamashita, from Japan, had her second 70 in a row. She's an 11-time winner on the Japanese tour.

''I'm not thinking about much of winning,'' Yamashita said through a translator. ''I'm just focusing on each shot.''

Sarah Schmelzel, the American who shared the second-round lead with Yang, shot a 74 to drop to 4 under.

First-round leader Lexi Thompson had a 73 to drop into a tie for fifth at 3 under with Lilia Vu (68), Caroline Inglis (69), Jin Young (73) and Hinako Shibuno (73). Inglis is from Vancouver, Washington.

The 29-year-old Thompson recently announced this season will be her last playing a full schedule. Last week in Michigan, she lost in a playoff to Vu in the Meijer LPGA Classic.

Vu had the best round of the day with her 68.

Yang went 39 holes without a bogey before dropping a shot on the par-4 eighth. She quickly recovered, hitting it 8 feet on the par-3 ninth and making the putt to get back to 6 under and take the solo lead.

Yang pushed her lead to two strokes, hitting the green in two on the par-5 11th for a two-putt birdie. She dropped another shot on the par-4 16th – her third bogey of the tournament – but followed with a 36-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th.