Yuta Ikeda is 2 shots behind the leader, Takumi Kanaya, an amateur young gun.
"It feels a bit strange that I am being in contention at this tournament for 2 years in a row. This was not my favorite course, I really had hard times here."

The course was renovated 2 years ago, and many players are struggling to fight here, but Yuta seems to welcome the changes. So many bunkers were added and is located in very strategically keen positions. But Yuta likes it. "It made easier to fix the clear target."

He also said, that course lost some trees which made it easier to see the course layouts.
"Before the tree shadows blocked our view and made it harder to see the course, but now we get to see it clearly."

He showed his words are correct by making his 2nd shot from 272 yards out at Par 5 3rd Hole by 3W to just 1.5-meter back of the pin. With that eagle, he scored 66. He has been gradually going into red numbers as he started off with Even Par on the Round 1

He took a hard fall at the course in September, and from that injury it took him 6 weeks to cure.
"Finally, for these past 3 games I am playing with no pain. I am getting my game back and performing as I wish now."

Yuta is ready mentally and physically to get his hands on the season's 2nd win since the Mizuno Open in June.
"As being on chasing position, I wanted to make few more birdies."
On his last hole 18th, his 2nd shot was on the fairways, but his club head was banged back by the stiff ground and the shot went toward the water. Ball barely made it to the roughs, but he had a difficult over the water short game to tackle.
"It was either making a lob shot or pitch and run onto the green. It today was the Final Round and I was 1 or 2 shots behind the leader, I would take the lob shot risk, but it the club gets under the ball due to the thick roughs, it will go into the water, so I chose the safe plan, since it was still Saturday."

Yuta ended by saving Par. Finished 2 shots behind the young leader, Takumi Kanaya the amateur Yuta fought with in Japan Open 2 years ago and won against him by 1 shot.
"I can't afford to lose as a Pro. I will not let him have the win easily."