Japanese duo share lead in Panasonic Open

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OSAKA, Japan -- Friends on tour Azuma Yano and Hideto Tanihara, both of Japan, were tied atop the leaderboard at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open after the conclusion of a thrilling third round on Saturday.

Yano, chasing a second successive victory, posted a flawless 5-under 65 at Ibaraki Country Club's West Course for a three-day total of 12-under 198. Tanihara fired an equally superb 64 to give himself a chance of a career eighth title in the $1.85 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

Halfway leader Kaname Yokoo slipped to third place -- one shot back -- after a 68, while Chinese star Liang Wen-chong, New Zealand's Mark Brown and Korea's Bae Sang-moon stayed in contention on 201 after carding identical 67s.

Yano, 31, enjoyed a bogey-free round as he extended his rich vein of form after winning the ANA Open last weekend.

"I hit a lot of good shots, and I hope to win again tomorrow. I'm feeling good, but there are a lot of guys who can come up the leaderboard and make a charge. However, I do believe that it will be me again," said Yano.

Tanihara's eight birdies pushed him up the leaderboard and set up a tantalizing Sunday showdown with Yano.

"I need to keep playing like I did today to come out on top. I was on top of my game and managed to hit a lot of birdies. I feel confident, but like Yano says, there are a few others who can make a charge. Yano won last week, and I want to stop him from winning again," said Tanihara.

Liang stayed in the title hunt with a three-birdie round and was pleased to keep the bogeys away from his card. "I played solid. I didn't make many mistakes, and this will give me a chance tomorrow," said the Chinese player.

Chasing a first win in Japan, Liang knows he needs to put on a putting masterclass if he is to challenge for the Panasonic Open. "My rhythm is getting better as the week goes by, and I've recovered from my cold," said Liang

"I still haven't putted really well all week, and I need some luck on the greens to have a chance," said Liang, who is China's first Asian Tour number one.

Big-hitting Bae continued to ride on his new-found confidence after winning the Fortis International Challenge last week with Kim Hyung-tae, which earned him a maiden trip to the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China this November.

"My confidence is up, and I think I can do it tomorrow," said the 22-year-old, winner of the SK Telecom Open on the Asian Tour last year. "I didn't drive very well coming in, but I chipped and putted nicely. I'll need to hit some better approach shots to give myself birdie chances."

A missed 4-foot birdie putt on his last hole left a bitter taste in the mouth for Brown. The current leader of the Asian Tour's Order of Merit said: "I didn't play great on my front nine, and I missed some short putts. I need to put it all together in the final round.

"There are plenty of birdie chances out there, and I reckon I'll probably need to shoot a 63 or 64 to have a chance of winning."

Last year's U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina carded a 69 to lie on 205, seven shots off the pace, while American Fred Couples shot a 71 for a 209 total.