INZAI CITY, Japan — Beau Hossler shot a 5-under 65 to seize a one-shot lead after Friday’s second spherical of the Zozo Championship, beating wind gusts that reached 37 mph and drying circumstances on the Narashino Nation Membership on the outskirts of Tokyo.

Hossler, in search of his first PGA Tour victory, shocked himself and the remainder of the 78-player, no-cut area the place solely 13 broke par. Half did so in Thursday’s opening spherical beneath calmer circumstances.

“I’d say something beneath par was a extremely high quality rating,” Hossler stated. “So to shoot 5 beneath par was unbelievable.”

Hossler was one stroke forward of fellow American Justin Suh, who shot a 4-under 66, and two in entrance of Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira, who shot 68. 4 extra had been three again together with Individuals Eric Cole and Xander Schauffele.

Collin Morikawa, after a 64 to steer the primary spherical, slipped to 4 strokes off the tempo with a wind-blown 3-over 73.

“It (the wind) makes each shot considerably harder, from a 3-foot putt to a 260-yard shot right into a inexperienced,” Hossler stated. “It’s a big problem on each shot and also you simply strive as a lot as you’ll be able to to simply focus.”

“No disrespect to Japan, however I’ll take a win anyplace,” he added as he chases that first large victory. “I’ve been enjoying properly these days. It’s a troublesome golf course in spots, nevertheless it’s a really gettable golf course in spots.”

Cam Davis, an Australian who grew up enjoying within the wind in Sydney, managed a 70, additionally leaving him 4 strokes off the lead in a bunched area. Davis described the difficulty on his remaining gap, a 486-yard par-4 the place he took a bogey. He stated the off-and-on blasts of air had the whole lot to do with it.

“I hit my shortest drive of the 12 months in all probability by 40 yards on the final gap,” he stated, calling the circumstances a “4- or 5-club wind.”

He stated he hit back-to-back drivers on his remaining gap “and nonetheless got here up wanting the inexperienced. It was a extremely powerful day. Very proud of the way in which I grinded it out in even par as a result of that felt like a extremely troublesome spherical.”

Davis was additionally shocked by Hossler’s rating.

“I wouldn’t have stated 5 beneath was on the market,” he stated. “I imply, you at all times count on somebody to have a day the place issues go their approach and clearly Beau has simply performed tremendous nice golf. Hats off to him.”

Morikawa, making an attempt to interrupt a mini hunch after successful the 2021 Open, remains to be within the chase however disenchanted himself by not assembly the circumstances.

“When it was gusting, you needed to management your golf ball,” he stated. “I feel I counted my fairways after I was strolling up 18. I hit three fairways at this time. So enjoying out of the tough and enjoying out of the timber shouldn’t be straightforward on this golf course.”

“We’re nonetheless proper there,” he added. “4 again. Clearly a bunch of men, however I do know I can play properly as a result of yesterday was good to play some offense.”