Toshimitsu Izawa chipped in for birdie on the 18th hole to cap a solid round of 4-under-par 68 Friday as he grabbed a two-shot lead midway through the Georgia Tokai Classic tournament.
Izawa made four birdies without a blemish at the Miyoshi Country Club's West Course in Aichi Prefecture on his way to an 11-under 133 total, followed by little-known Yoshikazu Haku, Nozomi Kawahara and first-round leader Nobuhito Sato at 135. Monday qualifier Haku followed his first-round 68 with a 67 in his debut in an top-tier tour event, while Kawahara held steady with a 68 with five birdies and one bogey.
Fudo grabs lead
NIISATO, Gunma Pref., (Kyodo) Yuri Fudo, on course to win back-to-back money titles on the Japan LPGA tour, fired a 7-under-par 65 Friday for a two-shot lead after the first round of the Sankyo Ladies Open. Fudo made four straight birdies from No. 2 and three straight from No. 9 at Akagi Country Club as she matched the best round of her professional career in pursuit of a fourth victory of the year.
South Korean veteran Ku Ok Hee and tour rookie Hiroko Yamaguchi share second place behind the defending champion after 67s, followed by Orie Fujino, who had a 68 on a cloudy, near-windless day.