INZAI CITY, Japan — Nico Echavarria shot a 6-under 64 on Friday — matching his 64 on Thursday — to steer by two pictures over Taylor Moore and Justin Thomas after the second spherical of the Zozo Championship in Japan.
Thomas shot 64 and Moore carded 67 with three others simply three pictures off the lead together with Seamus Energy, who had the day’s low spherical of 62 on the Narashino Nation Membership.
Thomas has twice received the PGA Championship however is winless in two years on the PGA Tour.
Eric Cole (67) and C.T. Pan (66) had been additionally three behind heading to Saturday.
“I’ve by no means had a lead after 36 holes,” stated Echavarria, a Colombian who performed on the College of Arkansas. His lone PGA Tour win was final 12 months in Puerto Rico.
He had a two-round complete of 12-under 128.
“I’ve had it after 54, however by no means after 36, so it’s good to be on this place. There’s acquired to be some stress,” he added. “Hopefully an excellent spherical tomorrow can maintain me within the lead or across the lead. And the way I stated yesterday — the purpose is to be shut with 9 holes to go.”
Rickie Fowler, a crowd favourite in Japan due to his connections to the nation, shot 64 to go together with a gap 68 and was 4 pictures again going into the weekend. Max Greyserman was additionally 4 behind after a 68.
“It will be superb to win right here,” stated Fowler, whose mom has Japanese roots. “Got here shut just a few years in the past.”
Fowler tied for second in 2022
Fowler described his roots as “fairly far eliminated for Japan, however I’m certain I’ve kinfolk right here, however I don’t know anybody. Japanese tradition’s at all times been a fairly large a part of life rising up. I at all times love being over right here.”
Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama shot his second 71 and was 14 pictures off the lead.
Defending champion Collin Morikawa shot 67 and pulled inside eight shot of the lead, and Xander Schauffele — Open and PGA winner this season — shot 65 and was 10 behind after a 73 on Thursday.
“I really feel like I’ve acquired an excellent recreation plan out right here,” Morikawa stated, one other participant with Japanese connections. “I simply must execute pictures a little bit higher.”
“I’m the defending champ, however that doesn’t imply I’m instantly going to play higher simply because I received right here,” he added. “It’s a model new week, it’s a 12 months later. I really feel like my golf recreation continues to be in a great spot. I simply haven’t executed my pictures. When that doesn’t occur it makes golf a little bit harder.”
Schauffele turned 31 on Friday and stated he was serenaded earlier than his opening tee shot. He additionally has ties to Japan. His mom grew up in Japan and his grandparents dwell within the Tokyo space.
“Good solution to spend my thirty first birthday,” he stated.
