Ueda leads Smail at Tsuruya Open
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2009 Tsuruya Open | Round Two | 24 Apr 2009
35-year-old Yui Ueda leads after the second round of the Japan Golf Tour’s Tsuruya Open near Osaka, following up his brilliant opening round of 63 with a round of 67 to be at 11 under and three ahead of New Zealander David Smail.
Ueda, whose only win in ten years on the Japan Golf Tour was at the Token Homemate Cup two years ago, birdied four of his first seven holes and at that point appeared headed for a huge 36 hole lead but bogeys at his 9th and 11th holes slowed the momentum. He birdied two holes late however and still enjoys a healthy lead into round three.
Smail, who missed the cut last week at the season opening Token Homemate Cup, produced the highlight of the day when he holed his second for albatross at the par five 15th and is quickly back in a more familiar role for him in Japan.
Shingo Katayama, who is playing his first event since the brilliant 4th place finish at the Masters two weeks ago, is one shot further back in third place with Masaya Tomida.
Three time winner of this event, Brendan Jones, shares 8th place at 6 under along with fellow Australian Steve Conran although Jones will be disappointed to have dropped a shot at his final hole of the day.
Wayne Perske played late in the day but managed a round of 66 despite also dropping a shot at his final hole of the day. Perske is at 5 under and in 14th position.
New Zealander Eddie Lee is in 36th position, while New South Welshman, Steve Jeffress, in his rookie season, made his first Japan Golf Tour cut when he completed his opening 36 holes in 59th position.
Paul Sheehan, Craig Parry, Richard Tate and rookie Nathan Uebergang were amongst the Australasians to miss the cut.
