Saturday 17th October 2009
Ishikawa moves into lead
Teenager Ryo Ishikawa stormed into a one-shot lead at the Japan Open with a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 at Musashi Country Club.
The 18-year-old, fresh from winning three of his five matches for the International team in the Presidents Cup last week, carded seven birdies including a crucial three at the par-four 18th to move onto five under par overall after slipping down the leaderboard yesterday following a second-round 76.
Yasuharu Imano leads the pursuit of the six-time Japan Tour winner at four under after carding just one bogey in a solid third-round 70.
Hidemasa Hoshino blazed nine birdies during a third-round 66 to claim third at three under, with New Zealand's David Smail a further shot back after a 72 and Shigeru Nonaka (70), Azuma Yano (70) and Ryuichi Oda (71) the only other players under par tied for fifth at one under.
Hiroyuki Fujita slipped back to level par after a third-round 75, a shot clear of joint overnight leader Han Lee after the American struggled to a four over 76.
Defending champion Shingo Katayama had moved up the leaderboard and into a tie for third at two under after a 70 yesterday, but fell back to two over after a third-round 76.
Join us on Facebook