ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP - Day two digest

Everything you need to know from Friday's second round at PGM Ishioka Golf Club.

A host of eagles raised more money for the G4D Tour, while a new trio took over at the top of the leaderboard on day two of the 2023 ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP.

Here is everything you need to know from Friday's second round at PGM Ishioka Golf Club.

Söderberg's near-miss

Sebastian Söderberg almost got his second round off to the perfect start on Friday as he came agonisingly close to making an eagle on the first. He sent his second shot from just off the fairway racing towards the flag and watched on as his ball caught the edge of the hole but stayed above ground.

Herbert goes low despite late arrival in Japan

Lucas Herbert's journey to Japan was far from smooth so he didn't have time to get to know the course ahead of the tournament. But that hasn't stopped him from making a superb start to the week. He followed up his opening 67 with a 63 - which featured nine birdies - on Friday to head into the weekend tied at the top on ten under par. He said: "It was a bit of a travel debacle getting here. It might have been a bit of a blessing in disguise. Out on the course you can just commit to a shot a bit easier and not know what is left or right. You don’t have the same memories from hitting bad shots in the practice round, or knowing where the bad places are. Just stand up, look at a target, and hit it. Nick, my caddie, got here when he should have and did all the work for me. That speaks a lot to why we are ten under through 36 holes."

Els lands extraordinary eagle

Four-time Major Champion Ernie Els put on a show on day two, producing one of the shots of the day for an eagle on the 16th. Fresh from a birdie on the 15th, the 53-year-old holed his bunker shot on the next to safely make it through to the weekend on four under par. With ISPS Handa donating $1,000 for every eagle made during the tournament to the G4D Tour, the tally stands at $34,000 after two days.

Fine finishes

Jazz Janewattananond finished his second round with a flourish, making a hat-trick of birdies on the 16th, 17th and 18th to reach ten under par and lead the way alongside Herbert and Grant Forrest at the halfway stage. Thailand's Janewattananond saved his best for last, carding five birdies over the final seven holes, while Forrest also finished well, draining a monster birdie putt at the eighth - his penultimate hole - before making a closing gain from around ten feet.

Kanaya delights home crowds

Home favourite Takumi Kanaya sits two shots off the lead at the midway point after signing for back-to-back 66s on Thursday and Friday. He closed his second round with a wonderful chip-in birdie at the 18th to get to eight under par and go into the weekend as the leading Japanese player. He said: "My ball striking has been good all day today, even though I was not happy about my putting. But I made a good finish making a birdie, so I am hoping to play well this weekend."

Lawlor goes flag-hunting

G4D Tour star Brendan Lawlor only had eyes for the flag as he played his approach shot at the seventh, and his ball clattered into the pin before settling a couple of feet from the hole.