TOJO, Hyogo Pref. (Kyodo) Unheralded Tetsuji Hiratsuka reeled off six birdies through his last seven holes en route to a course record 9-under-par 63 and a one-stroke lead over Shingo Katayama at the midway point of the ABC Championship on Friday.
Hiratsuka, winless on the JGTO tour since turning pro in 1994, picked up three shots from the sixth hole to make the turn at 33 before catching fire with five straight birdies from the 12th for a 36-hole total of 12-under 132.
The 31-year-old's score was one shot better than record of 64, equaled by Katayama in the first round on Thursday.