Little-known American Ted Purdy carded a 4-under-par 67 Friday to grab a share of a one-stroke lead with overnight leader Tsuyoshi Yoneyama and Australian Craig Jones midway through the 100 million yen season-opening Token Homemate Cup.
Teeing off on the back nine of the par-71 Tokentado Country Club Nagoya course in Mie Prefecture five strokes off the pace, Purdy bagged six birdies against two bogeys for a 7-under 135 to share the lead with Yoneyama and Jones.
Yoneyama, winner of three tournaments in his 16-year pro career, had difficulty with his putting and scattered three birdies against four bogeys on the 7,047-yard course for a 72, while Jones birdied the final two holes for a 69 to join the lead.
Nobuhito Sato equaled the day's best score of a 66 in a bogey-free round to leapfrog from the opening-day tie for 42nd to a share of fourth with four others at 6-under 136.
Highly touted Yusaku Miyazato, who joined the tour this year, carded a 68 to move into a five-way tie for 17th at 4-under 138.
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki fashioned a 68 to jump to a tie for 45th with nine others at 1-under 141.
A total of 71 players survived the cut at even-par 142 to advance to the final two rounds. Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima soared to a 76 for 2-over 144 and failed to advance.