Staff WriterLucas Herbert held onto his overnight lead at the $2 million International Series Japan, despite a fleeting wobble midway through his second round.
Herbert’s two-under-par 69 on Friday left him at 11-under for 36 holes, a slender one-stroke advantage as he heads into the weekend at Caledonian Golf Club.
Herbert, who electrified the field with a course-record-equalling 62 on Thursday, rocketed out of the blocks with birdies at the opening two holes before adding a third at the par-5 14th.
That hot start saw him reach 12-under, only for a stray drive at the 15th to result in a double bogey, followed by back-to-back bogeys at 16 and 17.
Not to be deterred, the 29-year-old Aussie rallied with five birdies over the final 10 holes to secure his 69.
“I felt like I could have stretched the lead out and run away a little bit and put some ground between me and the field,” admitted Herbert, a four-time winner on major tours.
“But I’m still leading. I still fought back nicely and made some good putts there later in the round to make some birdies.
So, yeah…it’s a little bit frustrating to only shoot two-under, but I made eight birdies today.
I think I made seven birdies and an eagle yesterday. So, the good stuff is there. I just need to clean up some of the bad ones and I’ll be fine.”
Hot on Herbert’s heels at 10-under are Japan’s Shunya Takeyasu and Korea’s Younghan Song.
Takeyasu, one of the home hopes, posted a one-bogey 68 in tricky afternoon breezes, while Song carded a flawless four-under 67, moving both to within a shot of the lead.
“My shots were solid, so I was able to create more birdie opportunities compared to yesterday,” said Song, who aced a hole in his opening round.
“This is my third tournament of the year, and I usually get better as I play more events. But this course is tough – it’s really challenging to judge the wind.
I’m not focused on winning right now. My goal this week is simply to stay committed and play with confidence.”
Another beneficiary of calmer morning conditions was Japan’s Yuta Sugiura, whose four-under 67 kept him in contention at eight-under alongside South Africa’s Ian Snyman (66).
Both are three strokes off the pace, buoyed by a wave of low scores early in the day.
Takeyasu, who boasts just one bogey through two rounds, credited his steady play to changes made on the practice green late last year.
“I adjusted my weight position at address, and that has made my stroke feel more comfortable.
Also, starting this year, I’ve been working with a putting coach for the first time, which has also helped improve my putting,” he explained.
Taiwan’s Chan Shih-chang and New Zealand’s Nick Voke stole the show in the wind-swept afternoon, each firing bogey-free rounds of 63 and 64 respectively.
Chan rocketed up 76 places from outside the cut line, while Voke climbed from tied 55th to tied fifth, both sitting at seven-under alongside Guatemala’s Jose Toledo, Australia’s Travis Smyth, and LIV Golf’s Cameron Tringale and Caleb Surratt.
As the third of ten marquee events on the Asian Tour that pave the way to the LIV Golf League, the International Series Japan is already delivering drama—and with two rounds to play, the story is far from over.
Keep your eyes on Herbert as he chases a breakthrough victory, but don’t count out the challengers breathing down his neck.
