Nobuhito Sato overcame back-to-back bogeys on the front nine for a 1-under-par 70 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead midway through the $140 million Fujisankei Classic golf tournament.
Sato carded three birdies from No. 9 over the Kawana Hotel's par-71 links course in Shizuoka Prefecture for a 5-under 137 and two-shot advantage over Takenori Hiraishi and overnight leader Lin Keng-chi of Taiwan.
Fudo stretches lead
Overnight leader Yuri Fudo forged a 3-under-par 69 on a chilly and rainy Friday to stretch her lead in the 60 million yen Nichirei Cup World Ladies golf tournament to five strokes after two rounds.
Fudo carded five birdies and two bogeys over the Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club's 6,424-yard, par-72 course for a 10-under total of 134.
Two-time defending champion Karrie Webb of Australia shares second place with Chikako Matsuzawa, Toshimi Kimura and Rie Murata, who fired the day's best round of 68.