One hole. Just 1 shot was so regretful for 22 years old Yuwa Kosaihira. Yuwa started off the R3 as co-leaders but returned to the club house not being able to keep his position.

Rain kept on falling on the freezing morning at Tokyo Yomiuri CC on Saturday. Temperature was in low single digits and hands and body was chilled. Yuwa made 3 birdies on his front nine and seemed to be in cruise control as the leader, but "my tee shots lost so much distance since it was so cold and I had so many tough yardages left on my 2nd shots," recalled Yuwa.

Yuwa was facing many trouble shots under the harsh conditions.
"I tried to be on the safe side, don't aim toward the pin and land it on wide safe zones. I was able to keep that management going well."
As he said, he made 3-meter at 14th and took became the leader again.

But tragedy happened on the "chance hole" Par 5 17th.
"I totally mess up my plan. My 2nd shot from the right-side roughs banged on a tree and went into the bunker. "
Then Yuwa made terrible miss on the 3rd shot out of the bunker and ended up down the big gap over the green. His 4th shot was way too powerful and flew directly over the green to the apron. It took him 5 shots to bet it onto the green and 2 putted for regretful double-bogey.
"I should have aimed towards the apron on my 2nd shot."

Yuwa was deeply regretting his reckless aggressive play on 17th, and that effected his 18th as well. He 3-putted for a bogey and had to be pushed out from the leader's position.

Yuwa went directly to the practice range and regretted his round with so much disappointment. But next moment, laughter was surrounding him. 10 years older Naoto Nakanishi, who is Yuwa's big brotherly figure came to see him. Naoto started early in first group, but he waited to take Yuwa out for dinner and cheered him up.
"Yuwa, so you are regretful, I know that feeling too. But you will be okay. Good thing about you is that you'll forget bad things after you sleep. You'll be fine tomorrow. You can do it!"

Naoto's words got Yuwa back on his feet and smile was back on his face. He is still just 1 shot behind the leader and has a big chance of becoming the Youngest Winner of JT Cup. Yuwa will be ready, thanks to the powerful support from his "big brother" Naoto.