Veteran Tsuyoshi Yoneyama birdied his first three holes en route to a superb 7-under-par 65 on Saturday to move into a three-way tie for a two-stroke lead heading into the final round of the NST Niigata Open.
The 38-year-old added four more birdies -- three straight from the 14th hole -- in a flawless round at Nakamine Golf Club to join overnight leader Yoshiaki Mano and Hideki Kase on a 54-hole total of 13-under 203.
Yoneyama is aiming for his first win in four years on the JGTO tour.
Takahashi on a roll
MIZUNAMI, Gifu Pref. (Kyodo) Overnight leader Mihoko Takahashi shot a 1-under-par 71 on Saturday to maintain a one-stroke lead going into the final round of the Golf 5 Ladies tournament.
Teeing off for the second round at Mizunami Country Club with a one-stroke margin, the 24-year-old Takahashi, birdied three holes before she was tagged with bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes. She carded a birdie and a bogey the rest of the way for a 36-hole total of 6-under 138.