Yusaku Miyazato has risen to the top with his trusty bloomstick putter on fire.

"I had struggled on distance control on my shots, but good putting rhythm save the day."

He made 7 birdies and the shortest one was 2.5-meter. Including critical par saves which were around 5-meters, his putts for this rounds was only 25.

"I tried to make as much as birdies as possible, so I would have some cushion before reaching the toughest 18th hole."

With his putter being hot again, he is now a solo leader going into the weekends, with 3 shots margin.

Today's pin position for the 18th was set at right-side all the way back on the green, which is known to be the "most difficult" place. Yusaku had a long birdie chance, but his putt was way too short, and he ended up making bogey on the finishing hole.

"I am getting use to this bloomstick. It is important to use the big muscles. You must move the shoulder for the back swing and don't make unnecessary motions. My father is here this week and he said, he felt really worried when I was on the green since my putting was really worse. But he is happy to see me play well, and he could relax now."

Yusaku jumped into top 30 slots of JT Cup by finishing 4th and 2T in last 2 weeks. It was last minute entry and he himself didn't expect to play this well.

"Well, I have made into JT Cup for 9 times, so I do have experience."

He made dramatic chip-in for the victory in 2013, and made come from behind win in 2017 and also achieved Order of Merit Champion title in 2017. So, he has great memories and here to rely on.

"On the tough course like this, you must make precise strategy. Never place your ball on downhill. It is lot better to have 4-meter of uphill, rather than 2-meter of downhill. You must think about the putt you will be facing. It is not smart just to aim for the pin. When you have the undulation of the green in your mind, you would choose smart."

Experience speaks. Yusaku is onto hunt down his V3 at JT Cup kicking away the hopes of 5 Order of Merit nominees.