Katsuyoshi Tomori stepped up his bid to become the first Japanese winner on the European Tour for 16 years and only the second ever when he shot a 66 to claim the clubhouse lead in the Sarazen World Open at PGA Golf de Catalunya, Barcelona.
The 44 year old led with an 11 under par total of 205, with a total of 24 players left on the course when the fading light forced the suspension of play.
Among those still to finish early tomorrow morning are England’s Peter Mitchell, who stood 11 under with three to play, and Thomas Bjorn and Emanuele Canonica, who had four holes to complete.
However Tomori set the pace thanks to a holed second shot from 130 yards with a nine iron at the second hole. That eagle – one of three twos in his round – propelled him into driving seat.
Now Tomori aims to emulate his countryman Isao Aoki, who won the World Match Play in 1978 then added the 1983 European Open at Sunningdale to become the first winner of a 72-hole stroke-play tournament on the Tour.
“I putted very, very well today. That was the key. Now I want to follow Isao” smiled the inscrutable Oriental gentleman, who in 1996 became the first Japanese golfer to enter and to graduate from the Qualifying School.
Domingo Hospital of Spain, playing with Tomori, clearly caught the bug for holing full-blooded shots. His three iron at the 10th popped into the hole for an eagle two as he fired a 67 to lie just one shot behind Tomori on 206.
Another Spaniard, Francisco Cea, carded a 69 before the light faded to make his challenge on 207, nine under par.
