It's Shugo Imahira again. He started out at 47T but got on a rocket to finish at 3T by the end of the Round 2. He settled for Even yesterday, but now he is at 7 under, in his "regular position" to catch his win.

Shugo Imahira, on target for achieving his goal to defend his Order of Merit Title, has scored today's best score 64 to jump up to 3T position.

He was quiet for his first half as he recalles, "the wind was strong and couldn't get my 2nd shots close enough to the pins".
But after about 1-hour break, he went on to make a charge.
"I was able to give myself a chance and I was able to make all of them today."
He made 3-meter on 14, 6-meter on 15, 4-meters on 16 and 17. Then on final Par 5 18, his 2nd shot went over the fences which separates spectator seats. He was entitled to relief, so he picked up his ball between the boards and dropped. But his 3rd shot from the roughs was short and left him 3-meter to putt for birdie.
"Even in that situation, I aimed to finish with a birdie."
And he did it. 5 straight birdies on his back nine and placed himself in the contention again.

Last week, Shugo had lost to Jung-Gon Hwang by a shot, but he still got to No.1 position on the Money Rankings. He also took over the No.1 place on the Mercedes-Benz Total Point Ranking, which Rikuya Hoshino kept the lead since July.
"I overtook you", said Shugo during the round with Rikuya, which really made former No.1 pretty irritated.
Shugo's consistency is somewhat lethal now.

Shugo first played at this tournament at age of 22, his 2nd year as a Pro. He has won the Abema TV Tour's Heiwa PGM Challenge, and earned his exemption to this tournament, which he made the cutline and finished at 17T.

"Those days, no matter how great I played, I was around 25th on the Regular Tours. So, from then I think I have become better and stronger."
Now, as No.1 on the Money Rankings, he is eager to win this week and make it concrete for his Order of Merit Title defending.