Pouring rain haunted Koga GC on Round 2 Friday, and the game was delayed and stopped for several times and it was totally suspended at sunset. Remaining holes of Round 2 for 60 players are scheduled to resume tomorrow morning at 8 am. The Round 3 will continue at 1 pm but has announced to change the format from originally twosome one way to threesome two way.

The game stopped and delayed several times today. Affected by the bad weather, 6 players who scored under par on Round 1 all eventually lost their savings. Amongst the players who were able to finish the Round 2, Shugo managed to become the provisional 4T with total even par.

Shugo won the Bridgestone Open last week, and with that prize, he has become No.1 on the Money Rankings. Shugo maintained his good game and momentum to play stable golf even in the bad condition.

Shugo started out at 7:29 from tee box 10. But right after his tee shot at 11th, the play was called off due to heavy rain. He resumed at 8:53, went on to make the turn but after his bogey on 4th, all the play was stopped again. It must have been very difficult to keep the rhythm and pace for the players in these circumstances, but it didn't seem to bother Shugo.
"I tried not to think much during the break and some snacks. Then I told myself to concentrate when the play resumed."

As Shugo mentioned, even in off and on situations, he kept his game going. He had 2 birdies in a row at 17, then on Par 3 2nd he also made a great shot with 3U and made birdie. Then after the second break, he made 5-meter on 6th and 7-meter on 7th for another consecutive birdies.
On 8th, his 3rd shot got caught deep in thick rough, but he got it out with a great short game to save 3-meter par.

Koga GC is known for very narrow fairways and undulated slicky small greens. There are so many hidden traps around the course, but Shugo says, "When I make up my mind, I don't hesitate to make the shot. If I wonder on my tee shots and lay it up, I still might get caught in the roughs, so when I chose my club, I just hit it with a full swing."

If Shugo could win this week, the prize will be 5 years exemption.
"I really would love to have the Japan Open title, but I know this is very hard course to eat. It is tough to make big scores here, but I will try to save pars and if there comes a chance, I will try to take them all."