Takumi Kanaya snatched the second round lead despite dropping a shot at the last to head into the weekend rounds of the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters with a slender one-shot advantage over defending champion Shugo Imahira.
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The 26-year-old posted a four-under-par 66 for a two-day total of eight-under-par 132 as Imahira mixed his card with six birdies and three bogeys for a 67 and 133 total.
Kanaya, a seven-time JGTO winner and chasing his third win of the season this week, started strongly with an outward 31 where he birdied holes one, two, five and seven.
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He birdied 10 immediately after the turn and parred the next seven holes before finding trouble on 18 when he hit his approach shot into the water. Kanaya then splashed the ball out to within inches from the pin before sinking the putt for what was the only bogey of the round for him.
“It was a relief to finish with a bogey. It could have been worse so it’s funny to say this but it’s nice to end with the bogey,” said Kanaya.
“The best part of my game today was my putting. I managed to hole many good putts while enjoying the views of Mount Fuji!”
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Imahira is hoping to overturn his one-shot deficit when he starts his final 36 holes at the Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course. The 32-year-old credited his strong iron play for keeping him in contention after being left frustrated with three bogeys.
“My irons were solid today. Which is probably why I’m able to be so accurate on the course today. It was frustrating to make three bogeys on my back-nine after a good front-nine. I could have putted better but that’s golf. Hopefully, I can do better over the weekend,” said Imahira.
