Kanaya makes move to share lead with Kinoshita

Takumi Kanaya shot a solid four-under-par 67 to grab a share of the lead after three rounds at the Vantelin Tokai Classic on Saturday, positioning himself to potentially reclaim the top spot in the JGTO money rankings.

Kanaya carded five birdies against a lone bogey, reaching 11-under-par 202 at Miyoshi Country Club's West Course.

He was joined at the top by Yuta Kinoshita, who birdied the last two holes to shoot a 68.

The duo holds a slender one-shot lead over Vantelin-sponsored star Rikuya Hoshino, who sizzled with a bogey-free 67, marked by an eagle and two birdies, while Ryosuke Kinoshita carded a 70 to sit in solo fourth place.

A pumped-up Kanaya aims to become the first player to reach three victories this season.

"I felt I delivered a strong performance today," said Kanaya, who won the BWM Japan Golf Tour Championship and Fujisankei Classic.

"I believe playing in the last group on the final day holds significance. It offers the best opportunity to secure a win. I've managed that spot this week, and my goal is to come out on top."

Currently second in the money list with ¥98,740,999, Kanaya trails just behind Keita Nakajima, who leads the standings with ¥103,484,179.

With Nakajima missing the cut on Friday, Kanaya has a golden opportunity to leapfrog him. A commanding lead is within reach, especially with the winner's share of ¥22,000,000 at stake.

Taiga Semikawa, leader of the first two rounds, struggled for the second consecutive day, shooting a 73 that landed him in a four-way tie for fifth on 206.

Semikawa, who shattered the tournament's 18-hole record with an impressive 61 on Thursday, managed just two birdies, offset by four dropped shots — including a double bogey on the first hole.

"I've consistently been pulling shots to the right since yesterday. I hoped to correct it as the round went on, but even as my shots started to get better, I couldn’t capitalise," he lamented.

"On the front nine, particularly on holes seven and eight, I had chances but failed to convert. If I'd made those putts, it could've shifted the momentum."

South Africa's Shaun Norris and Justin De Los Santos of the Philippines both made a significant move ahead of the finale, firing identical 67s to be tied 12th on 208 and tied 17th on 209 respectively.

Leading third round scores:

202: Takumi Kanaya 67-68-67, Yuta Kinoshita 64-70-68;

203: Rikuya Hoshino 70-66-67;

204: Ryosuke Kinoshita 65-69-70;

206: Takashi Ogiso 66-71-69, Kodai Ichihara 69-68-69, Koshiro Maeda 67-69-70, Taiga Semikawa 61-72-73;

207: Shunya Takeyasu 71-69-67, Yosuke Asaji 69-69-69, Tomoyo Ikemura 69-69-69.