Shingo Katayama forges ahead to grab second round lead at the Token Homemate Cup
Shingo Katayama, one of Japan’s most prolific golfers, finally inched past Yoshikazu Haku and Kunihiro Kamii to grab the second round lead at the Token Homemat Cup at the Token Tado Country Club, Nagoya.
Katayama scored 9-under for 68 and now has an aggregate score of 133. The 38-year-old veteran has been lurking in obscurity for quite some time and is without a win since his last victory at the Visa Taiheiyo Masters in 2008.
Katayama opened the second round with aplomb and birdied three holes of the front nine. His forward charge, however, was halted with a bogey at the 11th. Undeterred, Katayama sunk a 20-feet putt to finally clinch the lead with 3-under for the
day and is now one shot ahead of Haku and Kamii.
Katayama, whose childhood home in the Ibaraki Prefecture was partially destroyed by the earthquake, was not able to qualify for this year's Masters. Katayama was not able to make the cut at the 2010 episode. He was visiting his old house last week while
the Masters was in full swing.
Katayama’s first round co-leader Kim Kyung-Tae had a terrible day on the course and with his below average performance, has now dropped down on the leaderboard. He scored 3-over for 74 and is now 3-under at the end of second round. Hidemasa Hoshino is at
the fourth place with his steady performance in the second round, settling for 4-under for the day.
One of the surprise contenders of the day, Haku, who is usually off-course because of his chronic allergy to cedar pollen at this time of year, has put himself in contention. He has been able to manage a score of 4-under for both first and second rounds
and looks all out to challenge Katayama for the third round lead.
“I've given up my fight against hay fever, so I'm just trying to do my best on the course without expecting anything,” a red-eyed Haku told reporters.
The seasoned Katayama, on the other hand, will not prove to be an easy competitor especially when he finally seems to be doing all the right things to reach the top slot.
The 26-times Japan Tour winner enjoys a lifetime exemption on the tour and has been working hard to bring his prime back once again and has also called back his 11-year old caddie Masanori Omizo. He has also featured in the top 30 in the World Golf Rankings
and ranked seventh on the Career Wins List and third on the Career Money List earning a staggering ¥ 1.5 billion.
Katayama finished fourth in the 2009 Masters with his brilliant 10-under and stunned the world with what Japan can offer to the sport.
Third round tee times are scheduled at 9.30 in the morning.
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