Due to the thick fog in the morning, the starting time delayed for 1 hour, and that lead for 1 group not able to finish the Round 1. Toru Taniguchi was one of the players who was rushing his play to beat the sun set, and he closed the day with 66, and sits at provisional solo 2nd for the night.

"I know I am an old man and is tough to fight in this field, but I want to hang in a bit longer."

On the final 18th, 50 years old playing partner Taichi Teshima called out "great shot" to Toru Taniguchi, as Toru made a great bunker shot to the pin and saved par.

Toru and Taichi, both now in Senior Tour, they have had the chance to play along on the tournament quite a few times. This is their 5th time to play in same group this season.
"I had enough of this old guy, I want to play with the young guns" says both.

Today, Toru was 3 shots better than Taichi.
"So far, it's we both won twice against each other, and we are even. Taichi lead first but I caught him because I am better player" laughed Taichi.

"I easily beat him before, but now I am having close battle with Taichi, I am shocked" says, Toru in return.

Both players has been coming back every year to Fujizakura since this course became the venue in 2005. But Toru has been missing the cutline for past 3 years.

The course has been renovated and the total yardage is getting longer and longer, which means getting tougher and tougher for the over 50 pair.
"I didn't feel confident with my shots at the practice range" said Toru, which was obvious as he hit into the left side trees on his tee shot at 1st hole. But he managed to save par there and got 2 straight birdies from 2nd hole.
"Still, this course doesn't give you a break."

Toru asked Chan Kim how to hit longer, and Chan's answer was "then give me your putting technique."
As Chan said, Toru has done so great with his putting and finished just 1 shot behind the provisional leader Chan.
"My golf wasn't so good today, but I told myself to swing big, find the fairway, get it on the green and make the putt. And my putts did save me, and I was able to make this score. It's going to get tougher, but I have been doing some training, so I want to live up to my expectations."