{"id":28312,"date":"2023-04-17T10:03:42","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T09:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golfcircus.com\/?p=28312"},"modified":"2023-04-17T10:03:42","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T09:03:42","slug":"takumi-kanaya-well-placed-for-second-international-series-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golfcircus.com\/en\/takumi-kanaya-well-placed-for-second-international-series-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Takumi Kanaya well placed for second International Series victory"},"content":{"rendered":"

Japan\u2019s Takumi Kanaya opened up a three-shot lead after the penultimate round of the US$2 million International Series Vietnam<\/a> today, showing the skill and composure that helped him record a breakthrough victory in the International Series Oman in February.<\/p>\n

The 24 year old from Hiroshima, Takumi Kanaya, carded a six-under-par 66, for an impressive tournament total of 17 under, with Australian Kevin Yuan and Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand in second place, on the Greg Norman-designed championship course at KN Golf Links.<\/p>\n

Yuan also returned a 66, while Jazz, the overnight leader, carded a 71.<\/p>\n

Zimbabwean Kieran Vincent is in solo fourth after a 71, four behind the Japanese frontrunner.<\/p>\n

This week is Kanaya\u2019s first Asian Tour event since Oman, where he became the maiden player from Japan to win an International Series event and the first from his country to claim an Asian Tour event outside of Japan in 13 years.<\/p>\n

Takumi Kanya said: \u201cYeah, I\u2019m feeling so great right now,\u201d said Kanaya, a three-time winner on the Japan Tour, with his most recent coming in 2021 at the Token Homemate Cup.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday the greens were very firm and bouncy, the conditions were difficult but still my shots were good, and I was putting really well, so I\u2019ll just keep going tomorrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do my best tomorrow, just focus shot by shot and just do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yuan is in the form of his life having made the cut in all eight events on the Asian Tour this season, highlighted by a fifth place finish in the International Series Thailand.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cI’d say the biggest thing would just be improving my ball striking, not shooting too many high numbers when I don’t really have my game together. You know, there’s so many good Asian Tour players, it is always very competitive. So, it gives me a lot of confidence to keep making cuts when I’m not playing my best.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt good out there, like on the driving range I was hitting the shots that I wanted, seeing the ball flights that I wanted, and it continued throughout the round. So, I felt it was a pretty stress free, bogey free round today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yuan has also been seeing the same coach as Hong Kong\u2019s Taichi Kho, Jonathan Wallett. Kho hit the headlines three weeks ago when he triumphed in the World City Championship in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaichi winning has really motivated me to do better because he’s such a good player, just seeing his game and stuff like that,\u201d said the Australian.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd after Hong Kong, just going back to Australia working on a few things and it’s good to see that I’m also heading in the right direction. John’s been really helpful, like very supportive, whenever I need him he is there. You know, we talk every day, text every day, so it’s been very good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jazz led with Kanaya for much of the day but a poor back nine, which he played in one over including a bogey on 18, saw him slip back.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust got really bad momentum on the back nine you know, just couldn’t get it back,\u201d said the seven-time Asian Tour winner.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut all in all, I\u2019m still in the game, I didn’t lose it completely. I almost lost it completely but not totally out of it yet so still have a chance. Just got to go out there and get some good breaks, hopefully get that momentum going again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thailand\u2019s Pawin Ingkhapradit (64) and Pavit Tangkamolprasert (68), Chinese amateur Ding Wenyi (67), the 2022 US Junior Amateur champion, and Hong Kong\u2019s Matthew Cheung (67) are equal fifth, five off the lead.<\/p>\n

American Andy Ogletree, presently ahead on both the Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merits, returned a 70, to go to minus eight.<\/p>\n

England\u2019s Paul Casey, who fought his way into contention with a second round 64, shot a 72 today and is six under.<\/a><\/p>\n

It is the fourth event on the International Series this season which could prove to be a crucial part of the schedule as many players are battling it out for the top spot on The International Series Order of Merit – fighting for the chance for a place in next year\u2019s flourishing LIV Golf League.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Japan\u2019s Takumi Kanaya opened up a three-shot lead after the penultimate round of the US$2 million International Series Vietnam today, showing the skill and composure that helped him record a breakthrough victory in the International Series Oman in February. The 24 year old from Hiroshima, Takumi Kanaya, carded a six-under-par 66, for an impressive tournament […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":28313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,576,53],"tags":[3721,4538,4361,4448],"class_list":["post-28312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","category-noticias-en","category-showcase","tag-asian-tour-en","tag-international-series-vietnam","tag-liv-golf-2","tag-takumi-kanaya"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t