Players making their move heading into final day of WUC Golf

LUBAO, PHILIPPINES — Japanese Daiki Imano shot four-under 68 to keep the head-to-head battle against leader Henry Tschopp close at the second day of action in the 2018 FISU World University Golf Championship at the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club.

The 21-year old Imano carded nines of 35 and 33 for a two-day total of 140 to share second place with compatriot Taisei Shimizu, who built his 71 from a 35-36 card.

“I made some mistake in my play today but I hope to do well on the next two rounds,” said Imano who also plays for the Japanese national golf team.

Imano sizzled with six birdies and two bogeys to trail behind two-day leader Tschopp, who made five birdies on top of three bogeys in the tournament sanctioned by FISU and organized by the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP).

“I was not expecting to be the leader after the second round because there was a Japanese player playing with four under. I was expecting to be one or two shots behind but now I am one shot ahead,” said Tschopp, who is an incoming freshman student at the Western Texas College. 

Shimizu, who played for Manila Southwoods at the 71st PAL Interclub last March in Bacolod, played one-under par 71 highlighted by six birdies to negate his five bogeys. Jonas Magcalayo stumbled with 76 and slid from tied fourth to 16th spot sharing with Muhammad Afif of Malaysia.  Ruperto Zaragosa played an even-par 72 for a five-way tie at 18th.

In team play, Japan’s campaign was spearheaded by Imano and fancied teammate Yuto Katsuragawa’s 70 for a 279 total after two days. Switzerland is ranked second with  a total score of 284 followed by Hong Kong at third with 286. Hei Nam Isabella Leung of Hong Kong keep a solo lead in the women’s division after firing a 71 for 144.

Charlotte Lafourcade of France and Dasom Ma of South Korea shared the second to third places with a 145 total.