Inzai City, Oct 25
Rickie Fowler, who has Japanese connections, as did defending champion Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele had a good outing on the second day of the Zozo Championship in Japan.
Fowler shot 65 and moved to T-7th, while Schauffele, who turned 31 as he played the second round carded 65 and moved up to T-42 and Morikawa scored 67 to be T-22.
Indian-American Sahith Theegala, who shot 72 on Day 1, improved to 68 and is now T-52nd. Kevin Yu of Chinese Taipei, who won recently on PGA Tour, with 65-68 is T-8th.
However, the lead was held by Colombian Nico Echavarria, who shot a 6-under 64 on Friday, to match his 64 on Thursday to lead by two shots over Taylor Moore and Justin Thomas after the second round. Thomas shot 64 and Moore carded 67 with three others just three shots off the lead including Seamus Power, who had the day's low round of 62 at Accordia Golf.
Thomas has twice won the PGA Championship but is winless in two years on the PGA Tour. Eric Cole (67) and C.T. Pan (66) were also three behind heading to Saturday.
Echavarria, whose lone PGA Tour win was in Puerto Rico, had a two-round total of 12-under 128.
Fowler, a crowd favourite in Japan, shot 64 to go with an opening 68 and was four shots back going into the weekend. Max Greyserman was also four behind after a 68.