The influence of Japanese players on the 2024 WPGA Tour season looks set to continue with Kotono Fukaya one stroke off the lead through two rounds of the Webex Players Series Murray River.

Victorian pair Andrew Martin and Andrew Kelly lead the way at 12-under par at Cobram Barooga Golf Club, Fukaya tied with Kiwi pair Michael Hendry (66) and Kazuma Kobori (66) at 11-under par.

Starting the day tied for the lead, Fukaya endured a mixed start to her second round.

She birdied the par-5 10th, made double-bogey at the par-4 11th and then got back to even on her round with a birdie at the par-4 12th.

A bogey at the long par-3 16th dropped the 25-year-old back to 1-over but only temporarily.

Playing her second into the par-4 17th from 130 metres out, Fukaya saw her 9-iron take one bounce before disappearing into the cup.

That eagle marked the start of a four-hole stretch that she played in 4-under, a final bogey at the par-3 ninth seeing her sign for a 3-under 68 to enter Round 3 just one off the lead.

One of nine Japanese players who attended Qualifying School last week won by Mizuki Oide, Fukaya hopes to use her first stint in Australia as a springboard to qualify for the Japan LPGA season.

Crediting her wedge play and putting for her good scoring the first two days, Fukaya had a unique take on her first two days playing competition against men.
“They’re so angry,” she laughed. “But it was fun.”

Kobori had six birdies and four bogeys in her round of 2-under 69 to sit three strokes off the lead and one back of younger brother Kazuma.

Staying together this week, the Kobori siblings will have the unusual opportunity to play together in the same group on Saturday.

Barooga local Steffi Vogel followed up her round of 65 on Thursday with 69 Friday to be in a tie for ninth, Malaysia’s Ashley Lau playing her way into the top-20 with a superb 7-under 64.

Eighteen WPGA players made the cut which went out late to 3-under, a total of 51 players advancing to the weekend rounds where they will be joined by competitors in the All Abilities and Junior Players Series tournaments.

The final two rounds of the Webex Players Series Murray River will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo.

Round 3 coverage begins at 4pm on Saturday with the final round to be broadcast live on Sunday from 2pm-7pm AEDT.