Defending champion Shih Huei-Ju (石惠如) used three birdies and one bogey to take the clubhouse lead after 36 holes at 1-over 145 heading into Sunday’s final round of the 2014 Meridigen Technology Cup.

Shih knows the tricks on the Hsin Chu Golf & Country Club, which is the backdrop of the third Meridigen Technology Cup and the first held jointly with men’s competition underway on the same course. Shih overcame a two-shot deficit on the final day here in 2013 to take the last laugh, holding off her main rivals not until the last hole.

Shih shot a 75 on Friday, however, with some great experiences from last year, settled down on Saturday with a great putting day that she credited her mentor Huang Yueh-Chyn (黃玥珡). Shih needed just 27 putts that included a 23-foot hole-out on the no.17 green.

“To be playing (in the same group) with ‘teacher’ is a joy,” said Shih. “She’s taught me so much that I felt extremely confident and focused with her by my side. It was a special day.”

“As usual, I won’t give myself too much to worry. I’m just going to play my game tomorrow and see what the God has planned for me.”

On the other hand, though, Huang’s 4-over 76 moved her down from a tie for fourth to seventh with Thailand’s Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong at 150.

Home course players Huang Yu-Chen(黃玉珍) and Liang Yi-Ling (梁宜羚) both shot 73 to sit one and two shots off the lead respectively.

Another shot adrift is 2013 TLPGA year-end no.1 Lu Ya-Huei (呂雅惠), who’s safely through to the final third round with four birdies and bogeys each to rise into a tie for fourth with Huang Shu-Huai (黃舒淮).

First-round leader Chen Szu-Han (陳思涵) came up short with her putters to card at 149 after a 5-over 78 and will start on Sunday at solo sixth.

There was an ace alert on the 180-yard hole no.6. Taiwan’s Pan Yeh-Ling’s (潘彥伶) 76 second-round included a hole-in-one with her 6-iron that saved her from elimination, because the cutline was at exactly 160 that made Pan and other 31 players advance into Sunday. Awaiting them is a NT$3 million purse and the winner in the women’s event will walk away with NT$420,000.