MIYAZAKI, Japan -- Yudai Maeda shot a 6-under 65 on Friday to move into a three-way tie for the lead after the second round of the $2.2 million Dunlop Phoenix.
Maeda offset a lone bogey with seven birdies at the par-71 Phoenix Country Club to share the midway lead at 7-under 135 with veteran Tetsuji Hiratsuka (66) and first-round leader Kenichi Kuboya, who shot a 70.
Italy's Edoardo Molinari (66) and Japan's Ryuichi Oda (68) were one stroke back.
Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa shot a 70 and was tied for 20th at 1-under 141, one stroke ahead of defending champion Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, who shot a 70 and was tied with Fiji's Vijay Singh and New Zealand's David Smail, who both shot 71.