-- Kazuhiro Takami inched a little closer to his first title since 1995 on Friday without even swinging a club as organizers decided to shorten the season-opening Token Corp. Cup golf tourney after snow halted Thursday's first round.
Hokkaido native Takami had looked at home in the freezing conditions as he carded a 5-under-par 66 to take the provisional lead overnight and, after the remaining 54 players completed their first rounds on Friday, the 17th-year pro remained out in front.
Veteran Kiyoshi Murota joined Tetsuji Hiratsuka, Taiwan's Hsieh Chin-sheng and David Smail of New Zealand one stroke off the pace.