Curtis stays in front

Open champion Ben Curtis has extended his lead by a stroke after finishing the second round of the Taiheiyo Masters in Japan at 10 under par.

The 26-year-old American, who came from nowhere to claim the Claret Jug on his Open debut in July, is two shots ahead of a chasing quartet consisting of Azuma Yano, Tomohiro Kondo, Toshimitsu Izawa and Masashi Ozaki

Curtis shot up from 396th to 35th in the world rankings after Royal St George’s but has been inconsistent until arriving at the Taiheiyo Country Club in Shizuoka, edging into the lead with a seven-under par 65 yesterday.

He took four more shots today but that was still enough to keep him in control of the event after birdies on the fifth, seventh, 10th and 16th.

His only stumble came at the 17th when he bogeyed the par three.

Ozaki, just one stroke back yesterday, stayed in the hunt despite bogeying the seventh with birdies at the ninth, 12th and 17th.

Kiyoshi Murota. Who eagled the 18th on a first faultless round, looked less comfortable today as he dropped a shot further behind with three bogeys.

Norway’s Henrik Bjornstad is the best placed European but he is a long way back at one under.