Little-known Tatsuya Mitsuhashi reclaimed the lead with a course record 9-under-par 63 Saturday to go four shots clear of India's Jeev Milkha Singh after the third round of the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup.
Mitsuhashi opened his round in style by rolling down a nine-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 second and added seven birdies in a bogey-free round at the Tojigaoka Marine Hill Golf Club to take a major stride toward his first title on the Japanese tour.
"I had no idea that I had set a record even after I'd finished the 18th," said Mitsuhashi, whose tap-in for birdie on the 18th was good enough to rewrite the previous mark of 64 set by Yuji Takagi in 2000.
Singh, who has yet to win since making his debut on the Japanese tour at the 1996 Kirin Open, had four birdies and two bogeys for a 70 and a two-day total of 204.
Takamura flawless
TOYOTA, Aichi Pref. (Kyodo) Veteran Aki Takamura shot a flawless 4-under-par 68 on Saturday to move to the top of the leaderboard heading into the final round of the Chukyo TV Bridgestone Ladies Open.
The 32-year-old from Kumamoto birdied her first two holes before chipping in a superb eagle on the 13th at Chukyo Golf Club's Ishino Course to lead a quartet of golfers including money rankings leader Yuri Fudo by one stroke.