Yoshinaga, 27 and a seven-year pro from Kumamoto, and Takao, who calls Manila Southwoods home, will start today’s third round at 146 with a one-shot lead over Mars Pucay and Jose Roy who shot a 75 for 147.
Pucay and Roy had a chance to take the lead but they three-putted the final green for a bogey. Together with their opening day 72, Pucay and Roy are two up over defending champions Gerard Cantada and J.R. Tanpinco.
Cantada and Tanpinco, a scion of one of Bacolod City’s wealthy families, struggled with a 77 to go down from co-leader to solo third at 149.
"We played again good," Yoshinaga said in broken English. "Yusuku and course so tough. Very."
Richard Abaring and Jose Iñigo shot another 75 at the par 71, 7,057-yard Riviera Golf and Country Club’s Langer course to stay at fourth with a 150.
Roger Retuerto and Erwin Vinluan came up with a 72 to go with an earlier 79 and Noli Kempis and Kim Chang Hoi made a 77 to share fifth at 151.
Lee Sung Ki and Jun Hyung Yu of South Korea struggled with an 80 but it was enough to give them seventh place at 152.
Solomon Gines and Artemio Murakami, who started the round tied with Yoshinaga and Takao in third place at 73, limped home with an 80 to lead the next big group in eighth slot with 153.
Tied with Gines and Murakami were Erwin Arcilla and Tonton Asistio with 76 and 77, Ramil Bicera-Jay Bayron 75-78, Rey Pagunsan-Bobby Inigo 77-76 and Ruel BanaresMarvin Dumandan 75-78 in the event with Konica Minolta Business Tehnologies Corp. of Japan as title sponsor.
Danny Zarate, the Riviera club pro, and Commodore Danny Pizarro, the Riviera president, came up another 77 and Juanito Pagunsan and son Juvic fired a 79 to share 12th spot at 154.
Other backers of the event U-Bix Corp. owner Bert Bravo revived in 2001 are Riso, Epson, Brother Office, Casio, Okamura, Planex Network, ServiceMaster, Terminix, Merry Maids, Grappa’s Ristorante;
Caffe Appassionato, Pivo Praha, WineMaster, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Mizuno, DHLWWW Express, Philippine Sports Commission, Bravo Golf and Rowell Group.
The pro in the champion team Saturday will win
200,000 while his partner will receive a handsome trophy.
Yoshinaga and Takao pieced together nines of 37 and 36 in the rolling layout German pro star Bernhard Langer designed with birdies on the fourth, 11th and 13th against a double bogey on six and bogeys on two, 12 and 17.
Marlon Dizon and Ruben de la Rosa combined for a 76 to take 15th place at 155.
Cookie La’O and Camp John Hay executive Shean Bedi came up with a 74 to take the next slot at 156. Also in that level were Cho Jae Yig-Lee Seung Hoon with 78 and Na Tae Kguen-Lee Seo Jae 78.
Tied at 158 for 19th were Emil Salvador of Davao City and Korean partner Kim O Ki with another 79 and Godofredo Sinfuego and Mike Vijar and 80.
