Jones, Scott chasing Taniguchi in Japan
BY Bruce Young | Japan Tour | 2007 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters | Round Two | 09 Nov 2007
Japan’s number one player in 2007, Toru Taniguchi, takes a two shot lead into the third round of the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters at the Taiheiyo Masters Golf Club in Shizuoka Prefecture but he has a couple of Australians breathing down his neck.
Taniguchi, who has already won three tournaments on this year’s Japan Golf Tour, birdied four of his last five holes in today’s second round to move two ahead of Canberra’s Brendan Jones and three ahead of Queenslander, Adam Scott who is alone in third place.
Taniguchi, Jones and Scott had all been first round leaders but Jones made a slow start to his second round before he fought back to play his final nine holes in 33 to move to 9 under.
Scott, who finished third in Singapore last week, moved to 9 under for the tournament through 11 holes before two bogeys saw him slip back. An almost compulsory birdie at the par five last saw him finish within three and he appears a significant danger to those ahead over the final 36 holes.
Another Canberra golfer, Chris Campbell, is in a large group at 5 under along with Geoff Ogilvy and Steve Conran while New Zealander, David Smail, is at 4 under and in 18th place.
The cut will fall at +3 so Australians Wayne Perske at 2 under, Craig Parry at 1 under and Craig Jones at +1 will ensure all Australasians in the field make the cut in the ¥150 million ($A1,450,000) event.
