Hiroyuki Fujita fired a fabulous 10-under 61 to storm into a tie for lead with Masaya Tomida heading into the final round of the Kansai Open on Saturday.
Teeing off four strokes off the pace, the 40-year-old Fujita set Takarazuka Golf Club's par-71 layout ablaze with a flawless round of eight birdies and an eagle, bettering by one stroke the course record overnight leader Tomida carded to set the pace in Thursday's 1st round.
Fujita, who won his seventh career title at last month's Shigeo Nagashima Invitational, and Tomida share top spot on 17-under 196, two strokes ahead of Tomohiro Kondo.
Tomida opened the third round with a birdie and turned up the heat on the back nine, picking up five more shots through his last seven holes in a bogey-free 65.
Five birdies and an eagle on the eighth in a 64 kept Kondo in title contention while Tetsuji Hiratsuka shot a 66 and was a further two strokes back.
Defending champion Ryo Ishikawa had a 68. The 17-year-old, who made a slow start with a 75 in the first round, made seven birdies and four bogeys and was tied for 38th on 3-under.
Koga in control
HAKONE , Kanagawa Pref. (Kyodo) Defending champion Miho Koga took sole possession of the lead after shooting a 3-under 70 in the second round of the CAT Ladies on Saturday.
Koga, who shared the first-round lead with money leader Shinobu Moromizato and Akane Iijima, had five birdies and two bogeys on her way to a 7-under 139 total at the par-73 Daihakone Country Club.
Moromizato had a 71 to sit one stroke behind Koga, along with veteran Akiko Fukushima and South Korean Lim Eun A, who carded 70s.