After 2R, the top portion of the leader board was dominated by graduates from Tohoku Fukushi University, famous for having Hideki Matsuyama and Ai Miyazato as alumni. On the top tie are Takumi Kanaya and Takahiro Hataji at 4 under, and 1 shot behind at 3T are Hideto Tanihara and Kazuki Higa, all TFU alumni. Also, the amateurs Taiga Sugihara at 5T and Ren Yonezawa at 9T are current students at TFU.

Takumi has succeeded in winning the professional tournament as an amateur in 2019, 4th player to do so. If he wins as a professional, he will be the 3rd player accomplishing both wins on same tournament. First player who has done it was Massy Kuramoto, who won the Naka Shikoku Open as amateur in 1980, won as professional in 1984, 1987, and 1988. Second player is Hideki Matsuyama, who won the SMBC VISA Taiheiyo Masters as an amateur in 2011 and won as professional in 2016.

Takumi did have tough time handling the gusty wind, but only stumbled on 2 holes, double bogey on 6th on his 1R, and bogey on 17th today.

"I am glad that I am limiting the mistakes to minimum. I am also making good saves, so overall I am playing very well."

Last year, he won 2 tournaments soon after he turned professional. He has made Top 10 finishes 7 times excluding the 2 victories. His worst finish is 16th and has never missed the cutline. Now he stands as 5th on the Money Ranking and on pursuit to taking the crown.

He challenged abroad, to US PGA Championship in May and The Open in July. In between the Majors, he has gained experience on EPGA Tour.

"I was able to see various players make very unique performances. I have learned the way to cope with difficult course from that experience."

Takumi's win at Gotemba as an amateur was on his junior year. He made dramatic eagle and won, which reminded many golf fans in resemblance to Hideki Matsuyama. Now Takumi faces same chance to accomplishing the record that Hideki has made.

"I feel very happy coming to this course. I am glad that I am in good position going onto the weekends, and I am looking forward to a good battle."