Miñoza one stroke off leaders after a 68

MANILA, Philippines – Frankie Miñoza stayed focused and shot a three-under par 68, moving within a stroke off Yuji Igarashi and IJ Jang halfway through the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship at the Shishido Hills in Ibaraki, Japan yesterday.

Miñoza, who fired a 67 in the first round behind a fiery windup, missed gaining a share of the lead as he three-putted the par-3 16th, settling for a 34-34 and a 36-hole aggregate of 135.

The 49-year-old Miñoza actually dropped a stroke on No. 3, another par-3 hole, after missing the green but recovered with three birdies in the last four holes, including back-to-back feats from No. 8.

He sustained his form and knocked down two more birdies in the first four holes at the back but reeled back with that three-putt miscue on the 16th.

Still, it put the veteran Filipino campaigner within the leaders and stayed on track of his bid to end a long title drought on the lucrative circuit.

Jang fired a hole in one on No. 13 to highlight a stirring round of 33-31 that included six birdies against a lone bogey as he caught up with Igarashi, shooting a 67, on top at 134.