Randhawa tied for second place

Jyoti Randhawa unleashed a birdie blitz on his back-nine to climb to tied-second position at the mid-way stage of the 140 million Yen (5,88,00,000 rupees), Casio World event being played at the Ibusuki GC Kaimon C at Kagosima, Japan on Friday. Randhawa's round of six-under 66 propelled his tournament tally to ten-under 134.

Overnight leader Katsumune Imai continued to lead at 14-under 130. Imai's round of seven-under 65 contained a hole-in-one, his second of the season. The Japanese pro aced the par-three fourth hole. His earlier achievement came on the third round of the Woodone Open Hiroshima in July this year. On that occasion, Imai aced the 11th hole of the Hiroshima Country Club.

Mamoru Osanai was placed third at nine-under 135, while three more Japanese golfers Tetsuji Hiratsuka, Tsuyoshi Yoneyama and Tomohiro Kondo occupied the tied-fourth position at seven-under 137.

Randhawa is arguably enjoying the best season of his career. The 31-year  old who earned a Japanese PGA Tour card for 2003 after winning the Asian PGA Tour Order of Merit in 2002, took early advantage of this opportunity with a fine win at the Suntory Open in Chiba in September. This further earned him a two year exemption on that Tour. Randhawa now looks set to record his second win in Japan in only his Rookie season.

Today, the Gurgaon based golfer, continued from where he left off overnight, with back-to-back birdies on his opening holes. A dropped shot on the third and another on the fifth undid the good work but birdies on the seventh and eighth, a bogey on the ninth not withstanding saw him make the turn at one-under.

Thereafter, Randhawa refused to look back birdying the opening and closing holes of his back-nine with three more birdies on the 13th, 15th and 17th thrown in for good measure.

"The key to my round of 66 was my putting," said the Indian pro, who returned 28 putts for his round. "I now have only one aim, to finish with the winner's cheque on Sunday," he added.

Meanwhile Jeev Milkha Singh's woes continued. The Hero Honda sponsored golfer shot a two-over 74 to occupy the tied-96th position at nine-over 153.

Leader, Katsumune Imai's round of 65 was studded with birdies on the first, second, seventh, ninth, 11th and 18th and an eagle on the fourth. His only bogey in 36 completed holes in this tournament, came on the sixth.

SCORES (after 36 holes): 130_Katsumune Imai(65,65); 134_Jyoti Randhawa(68,66); 135_Mamoru Osanai(69,66); 137_Tetsuji Hiratsuka(70,67), Tsuyoshi Yoneyama(68,69), Tomohiro Kondo(72,65); 138_Soushi Tajima(67,71), Frankie Minoza(68,70), Dinesh Chand(67,71), Katsunori Kuwabara(69,69), Jong Duck-Kim(71,67)