Jeev moves to tied second in Japan golf

TOKYO: Defending champion Jeev Milkha Singh moved up one place to tied second and was trailing the leader Shingo Katayama of Japan by a huge five shots at the end of the second round of the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup here on Friday.

Jeev shot a two-under 68 and moved to three-under 137 while Katayama shot a four-under 66 and is eight-under 132 after the second round at the par-70 Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club.

Tied with Jeev at three-under are Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng (67) and Hirofumi Miyase (68). Katayama mixed four birdies with two bogeys before the eagle on the 17th hole.

Jeev, for whom this is the last chance to win a tournament this season, missed half the greens, but putted well, needing just 26 to complete the round.

Jeev had a great start with a birdie on the first, and then quickly added two more on the fourth and sixth as he looked set to give leader Katayama a run for his money. A bogey on the ninth set him back and before he could recover he dropped a second shot on the 12th.

However, Jeev made up somewhat with a birdie on 17th for a 68.

Toru Taniguchi of Japan, who leads the Money List is tied fifth.