Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009

CHIBA (Kyodo) Yuta Ikeda carded his second straight 5-under 67 Friday to move into a share of the lead at the midway point of the Bridgestone Open.

Aiming to dislodge teenage star Ryo Ishikawa at the top of the money list, Ikeda poured in seven birdies against a pair of bogeys to reach 10-under 134 and was joined atop the leaderboard by Komei Oda, who rebounded from a bogey on the sixth hole with an eagle and five birdies in a 66 at Sodegaura Country Club in Chiba Prefecture.

The 23-year-old Ikeda, who won his third title of the season at the Canon Open a fortnight ago, currently sits ¥18.7 million behind Ishikawa in the rankings.

Shingo Katayama had eight birdies and one bogey on the way to the day's low of 65 and shares third place with Toru Suzuki (67) on 9-under.

Tied for fifth at 7-under were Japan Open winner Ryuichi Oda (67), Katsunori Kuwabara (67) and Kenichi Kuboya (68).

Ishikawa carded another 71 and sat alongside one-time U.S. PGA player Shigeki Maruyama at 2-under in a 14-way tie for 29th.

MIKI , Hyogo Pref. (Kyodo) Money leader Shinobu Moromizato shot a 5-under 67 Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Sakura Yokomine after the first round of the Masters GC Ladies.

Moromizato, a nine-time winner on the tour, made six birdies against one bogey at Masters Golf Club, while Yokomine picked up four shots in a bogey-free round to sit alone in second.

South Korean Lim Eun A, Mayumi Shimomura, Ayako Uehara and Aiko Ueno were tied for third another stroke back.

Shin Ji Ai, who leads the U.S. LPGA rankings, and Stacy Lewis shot 70s and were in a share for seventh, while 2005 winner Paula Creamer opened with a 72.

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