Hiroshi Goda fired a 3-under-par 69 to take the lead at 4-under-par 140 after climbing out of seventh place in the second round of the Sun Chlorella Classic golf tournament on Friday.
Goda, who won the Japan PGA Championship crown in 1994, bagged five birdies with two bogeys at the Sapporo Bay Golf Club in Hokkaido, battling strong winds and rainy conditions to move two shots ahead overnight leader Katsuyoshi Tomori.
Tomori at 2-under-par 142 shares second place with Takashi Kamiyama and Australia's Kenneth Druce.
Hidemichi Tanaka, leader of this season's money rankings, was 2-over-par in 17th place with a 146, while Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki and Go Hikagi, winner of last week's Niigata Open, were seven strokes behind in 25th place.
Otsuka ahead
NARITA, Chiba Pref. (Kyodo) Yuriko Otsuka sank seven birdies on her way to a season-best 6-under-par 66 on Friday to grab a one-stroke lead after the first round of the 80 million yen Vernal Open ladies golf tournament. Otsuka, who has been struggling this season and currently sits 48th on the tour money rankings, fashioned a steady round with a lone bogey on the par-3 16th hole at The Privilege Golf Club in Chiba Prefecture.
Natsuko Noro and Momoyo Kawakubo are one shot behind Otsuka, while four players, including last year's money rankings leader Yuri Fudo, are another stroke back at 68.