Hwang Yu-min moves up to T5 at Toto Japan Classic after round 2

8 birdies, 3 bogeys for 5-under 67

Defending champ Hataoka leaps to solo lead

Hwang Yu-min reads the putting line on the third hole green during round 2 of the LPGA Tour's Toto Japan Classic at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course in Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, on Friday. [Getty Images]

Hwang Yu-min continued to climb the leaderboard Friday in round 2 of the LPGA Tour's Toto Japan Classic.

Hwang carded eight birdies and three bogeys for a 5-under-par 67 at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course (par 72) in Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

After opening with a 4-under 68 to sit tied for seventh on Thursday, Hwang moved up two spots to tied for fifth at 9-under 135 — three strokes behind solo leader Hataoka Nasa of Japan at 12 under.

Hwang opened with a birdie on the par-5 second hole but gave a stroke back with a bogey on the par-4 fourth. Back-to-back birdies on the par-4 seventh and par-3 eighth were offset by another bogey on the par-5 ninth, leaving Hwang at 1 under through the front nine.

The back nine brought a birdie run. Hwang birdied the par-4 10th, then reeled off three consecutive birdies on holes 12 through 14. Another birdie on the par-5 17th pushed the total to 10 under, but a closing bogey on the par-4 18th tempered the finish.

Hwang hit 78.6 percent of fairways and 83.3 percent of greens in regulation, using 29 putts on the day. Hwang claimed a first LPGA Tour victory at the Lotte Championship in October last year and is chasing a second title in what is the first full season on tour.

Hataoka Nasa of Japan celebrates with her caddie after making an eagle on the par-5 17th hole during round 2 of the LPGA Tour's Toto Japan Classic at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course in Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, on Friday. [Getty Images]

Defending champion Hataoka surged to the top of the leaderboard Friday with an eagle on the 17th hole, eight birdies and two bogeys for an 8-under 64. The round lifted Hataoka from a share of seventh after round 1 to the solo lead at 12-under 132.

Hataoka, who won this event in 2018 and last year, is chasing back-to-back titles, a third victory at this tournament and an eighth career LPGA Tour win.

Yamashita Miyu of Japan sits alone in second at 11 under, while Suga Fuka of Japan and Ana Belac of Slovenia share third at 10 under.

Hwang is joined in the six-way tie for fifth at 9 under by Hara Erika, Sakuma Shuri, Kawamoto Yui, Iwai Aki and Takahashi Sayaka, all of Japan.

yjc@heraldcorp.com