8 players are bunched up as 3T, 1 shot behind the leaders, and 2 players from local Hokkaido Prefecture are listed. Yuta Uetake and Naoyuki Kataoka both are friends since junior days, and they went to same Tohoku Fukushi University, Naotuki as 2 grade younger.

This week, both players are staying at their homes. Now Yuta lives in Sapporo City, just 20 minutes' drive from the course. He is newlywed, just last march, so he literary flies back home when he finishes.
"It's great to be back home to my wife. It's impossible to go home when I play on other areas, so this is really great. She really supports me well with delicious meals. No matter how early I leave in the morning, she wakes up and make great breakfast for me. I am so happy."
Well, that happiness did pay out with bogey free 66 on his 2R.

Naoyuki, who is 2 years younger than Yuta drives for 30 minute to his home where, his mother makes him great meals.
"I thank my mother for making me such a great delicious meals every day."

Naoyuki, who has already won his Tour victory and making his triumph coming home visit to his parents want to another victory to send his gratitude.
"My shots were not stable today and it went sideways, but I managed to stay in the game with 5 birdies and 2 bogeys. I wanted to make bigger move up the leader board, but with the wind factor my shots are still 40%. I am glad that I was able to score in 60s with this condition."

Naoyuki played at ANA Open in 2014, his first professional tournament as an amateur. He finished as Lowest Amateur and made a great appeal to the golf world.
"7 years ago, when I got stuck in the roughs, I couldn't reach the greens, but now I can aim it and make it. I gained power and also 30 plus yardages on my distance. I will be more than happy if I could make my career V2 at this memorable tournament."

On the Japan Players Championship by Sato Shokuhin, where Naoyuki won his 1st Tour victory, Yuta was runner-up.
"I was really upset but very happy for Naoyuki at the same time. They are not many professionals from Hokkaido Prefecture, so I was really happy to see a buddy from my junior days win. This week I want to battle head-to-head with him again and make this tournament really exciting. It is too bad that my wife cannot come to the course, but she told me to play well so that I would be on broadcast a lot."