Veteran Shingo Katayama shot a 2-over-par, second-round 73 on Friday as the overnight leader fell a stroke back at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open.
Thailand's Pariya Junhasavasdikul, who entered the day alone in second trailing Katayama by two strokes, carded three birdies against two bogeys at Osaka Prefecture's Ibaraki Country Club. Pariya teed off on the 10th hole and needed a birdie on No. 9 to take the lead.
"I left three or four putts short in my round, so on the last hole my caddy told me that I needed to hole the putt or he will throw me in the water! I thought I had left it short again but luckily it trickled into the hole," Pariya said.
A stroke back of the 40-year-old Katayama in a tie for third at the event co-sanctioned by the JGTO and Asian Tour, are Tetsuji Hiratsuka and 20-year-old Masahiro Kawamura.