Taihei Sato put himself in a prime position to secure his maiden JGTO victory after posting a nine-under-par 62 to seize the third-round lead at the Fortinet Players Cup on Saturday.
The 32-year-old thrilled the gallery at Narita Hills Country Club with a flawless display highlighted by seven birdies and one eagle, moving to 16-under-par 197 and opening up a three-shot cushion heading into the final round.
Related: Kota Kaneko forges ahead with bogey-free 66
Overnight leader Kota Kaneko slipped to tied second with Yuwa Kosaihira (64) and Taiki Yoshida (66) after signing for a 68.
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Sato, who has recorded four top-10 finishes this season, began his day in fine form with four birdies for an outward 32. He then surged clear with a birdie on 11, an eagle on 12, and another gain on 13. After a run of four steady pars, he capped a memorable round with a closing birdie on the 18th.
“Today was really good,” said Sato. “My tee shots have been very stable over the past three days, so I’ve been able to play without much stress.”
Sato’s round included a highlight chip-in birdie. “The situation wasn’t great, but I got lucky,” he said. “It went in after about the third bounce and it was hit pretty hard. The grass was into the grain, so I swung harder to make sure it carried, and it ended up going a bit further than I expected.”
He also found himself in an unusual position on the par-four 16th. “I hit my second shot from the adjacent tee box,” he laughed. “There was nothing in front of me, and since it was a teeing ground, I even got a preferred lie. It was really lucky.”
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Reflecting on his recent struggles earlier in the season, Sato said: “I missed four cuts in a row, which really shook my confidence. I went back to basics by checking my clubface alignment and returning to the fundamentals I had neglected when I was chasing more distance.”
Sato revealed that his driving distance has improved significantly thanks to swing-speed training. “My carry distance has increased by about 10 to 15 yards,” he said. “I’ve been working out and practising to swing faster. My fairway accuracy has dropped a little, but I feel like my game has opened up a lot as a result.”
Having watched many younger players claim their first titles this season, Sato admitted it has been motivating. “When I saw younger players winning, I thought, ‘That’s great and I want to follow them,” he said. “Earlier this summer, I wasn’t quite there yet, but it really inspired me to keep working.”
As he prepares for the final day assault with a three-shot lead, Sato remains determined yet composed. “I’ve been in positions before where I was chasing but couldn’t catch up,” he said. “When I won on the Challenge Tour, I led from the front. This time, I want to treat it as another great experience and hold on to the lead.
