Hoshino Leads Asian US Open Challenge

San Diego, United States: Rikuya Hoshino upstaged compatriot Hideki Matsuyama to lead the Asian challenge heading into the weekend at the 121st US Open.

Making his second appearance in a US Open, Japan's Hoshino carded a second-round 74 over the South Course at Torrey Pines.

With a 36-hole total of one-over 143, he is tied for 21st spot, six strokes off the pace being jointly set by English veteran Richard Bland and American journeyman pro Russell Henley.

Matsuyama, winner of April’s Masters Tournament, struggled to a 76. From equal fifth overnight, he fell into a share of 41st place.

In total, 71 professionals survived the 36-hole cut, which came at four-over 146.

Other Asia-Pacific players to make it through to the weekend were Koreans Im Sung-jae (tied 30th, 144) and Kim Si-woo (tied 58th, 146).

Among those who missed out were Australian Cam Smith (147), Chan Kim (153), Ryo Ishikawa (153), Kang Soon (153) and KH Lee (155).

Hoshino has five Japan Golf Tour victories to his name, including two this year. His last win came at last month’s Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup Golf. He also won the Kansai Open Golf Championship in April.

Bland claimed his maiden European Tour victory in his 478th start, defeating Guido Migliozzi in a play-off at the Betfred Masters last month. A third-place showing two weeks later in Denmark positioned Bland at the top of a three-event European Tour points series that replaced US Open final qualifying in England that was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Bland has taken full advantage of the opportunity, and Friday’s four-under 67 gave him a share of the 36-hole lead with Henley, the first-round co-leader with South African Louis Oosthuizen.

They are one stroke clear of Oosthuizen (67-71), the winner of the 2010 Open Championship at St Andrews, and 22-year-old American Matthew Wolff (70-68), runner-up in last year’s US Open. Two strokes back are two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson (72-67) and Spaniard Jon Rahm (69-70), whose first PGA Tour victory came at Torrey Pines in 2017.

In all, 12 players are under par through 36 holes and another eight are at even-par 142.