Dean Wilson of the United States birdied the first three holes on the way to a second straight 3-under-par 68 Friday, opening up a five-stroke lead midway through the Japan PGA Championship.
Wilson then sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the 192-yard 12th hole before blotting his scorecard with a bogey on the final hole of the par-71 Queen's Hill Golf Club course to reach the clubhouse with a 36-hole total of 6-under 136.
"The wind made things really difficult out there today. If you don't keep your tee shots on the fairway, it's hard to find your way onto the green and make par," Wilson said.
Meanwhile, tour veteran Hajime Meshiai climbed into a share of second place after making three birdies in a bogey-free round for a 68, while Keiichiro Fukabori had a 71 to join Meshiai five strokes off the pace.
Overnight co-leaders Hsieh Chin-sheng of Taiwan and Satoshi Higashi sit a further shot back at 142 along with Hisayuki Suzuki and Koki Idoki.
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki shot a 74 and stands at 3-over 145.
Toru Taniguchi had a disastrous 77 on his way to 146 and money rankings leader Shingo Katayama shot a 73 for a midway total of 147.
Defending champion Nobuhito Sato had it even worse and failed to make the cut, established at 7-over 149, after shooting a 10-over 81 for 154. Fellow big-name golfers Toshimitsu Izawa and Hidemichi Tanaka also tumbled out of the tournament at 152.