Tetsuji Hiratsuka vaults into lead with 64

Local sensation Tetsuji Hiratsuka fired a sparkling seven-under-par 64 to take the third round lead in the US$830,000 Asia Japan Okinawa Open on Saturday.

The 34-year-old topped the leaderboard on 10-under-par 203 with countryman Kaname Yokoo in hot pursuit at the Naha Golf Club. Yokoo, who has four career victories on the Japan Golf Tour, was a stroke off the pace after firing a 69.

“I hope to improve my putting to solidify my position at the top on the final day,” said Hiratsuka .

Title contender Toru Taniguchi carded back-to-back 67s as he was tied third with defending champion Kiyoshi Miyazato of Japan , who scored a 70.

“I don't want to strain myself tomorrow. I hope to take it easy as I don't expect it to be as windy as it was today,” said Miyazato.

“I am quite familiar with the course which should help me deliver a better result tomorrow,” he added.

Recently crowned Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand struck a 72 as he shared seventh spot with Volvo Masters of Asia champion Shiv Kapur of India who was even-par for the day.

The others tied at seventh place were the Japanese duo of Yasuharu Imano and Eiji Mizoguchi and Australian Scott Strange, who clinched the 2005 Myanmar Open title on the Asian Tour.

Thaworn was unable to find his rhythm on the front nine but remained steady in the closing stages. He bounced back from a double bogey at the first hole with birdies on the second, fourth and sixth holes but struck two more bogeys on the eighth and 10th holes.

Leader Hiratsuka , however, enjoyed a blemish free round. He blazed past the front nine with birdies on the second, fourth, fifth and ninth holes. He leaped into the lead when he birdied the 10th and 14th before ending his round with another birdie on the par four 18th hole.

“The wind was still very unpredictable today but it should subside by tomorrow which would definitely help my game,” said Hiratsuka .

The Okinawa Open is the opening leg for the 2006 season for the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

Leading third round scores

203 - Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 71-68-64

204 - Kaname Yokoo (JPN) 65-70-69

205 - Toru Taniguchi (JPN) 71-67-67, Kiyoshi Miyazato (JPN) 68-67-70

206 - Tadahiro Takayama (JPN) 70-68-68

207 - Kenichi Kuboya (JPN) 67-72-68

208 - Eiji Mizoguchi (JPN) 72-68-68, Scott Strange (AUS) 70-69-69, Shiv Kapur (IND) 72-65-71, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 69-67-72, Yasuharu Imano (JPN) 71-64-73

209 - Charlie Wi (KOR) 72-70-67, Yang Yong-Eun (KOR) 71-69-69, Tsuyoshi Yoneyama (JPN) 70-69-70, Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 66-71-72

210 - Tommy Nakajima (JPN) 69-71-70, Ross Bain (SCO) 72-68-70, Chris Campbell (AUS) 68-68-74, Ryuichi Oda (JPN) 69-67-74

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