Nico Echavarria shoots another 64 to lead ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP by two after Round 2

INZAI CITY, Japan (AP) — Nico Echavarria shot a 6-under 64 on Friday — matching his 64 on Thursday — to lead by two shots over Taylor Moore and Justin Thomas after the second round of the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP.

Thomas shot 64 and Moore, who took the first-round lead with a 63, carded 67. Three others were just three shots off the lead including Seamus Power, who had the day's low round of 62 at ACCORDIA GOLF Narashino Country Club.

Thomas has twice won the PGA Championship but is winless in two years on the PGA TOUR.

Eric Cole (67) and C.T. Pan (66) were also three behind heading to Saturday.

“I’ve never had a lead after 36 holes,” said Echavarria, a Colombian who played at the University of Arkansas. His lone win on TOUR was last year at the Puerto Rico Open.

He had a two-round total of 12-under 128.

"I’ve had it after 54, but never after 36, so it's good to be in this position," he added. "There's got to be some pressure. Hopefully a good round tomorrow can keep me in the lead or around the lead. And how I said yesterday — the goal is to be close with nine holes to go.”

Rickie Fowler, a crowd favorite in Japan because of his connections to the country, shot 64 to go with an opening 68 and was four shots back going into the weekend. Max Greyserman was also four behind after a 68.

“It would be amazing to win here,” said Fowler, whose mother has Japanese roots. “Came close a few years ago.”

Fowler tied for second in 2022.

Fowler described his roots as "pretty far removed for Japan, but I'm sure I have relatives here, but I don't know anyone. Japanese culture’s always been a fairly big part of life growing up. I always love being over here.”

Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama shot his second 71 and was 14 shots off the lead.

Defending champion Collin Morikawa shot 67 and pulled within eight shot of the lead, and Xander Schauffele — The Open Championship and PGA Championship winner this season — shot 65 and was 10 behind after a 73 on Thursday.

“I feel like I’ve got a good game plan out here,” Morikawa said, another player with Japanese connections. “I just have to execute shots a little better.”

“I am the defending champ, but that doesn’t mean I’m immediately going to play better just because I won here,” he added. "It’s a brand new week, it’s a year later. I feel like my golf game is still in a good spot. I just haven’t executed my shots. When that doesn’t happen it makes golf a little tougher.”

Schauffele turned 31 on Friday and said he was serenaded before his opening tee shot. He also has ties to Japan. His mother grew up in Japan and his grandparents live in the Tokyo area.

“Nice way to spend my 31st birthday,” he said.