Tadd Fujikawa delivered the best round of his life in the Sony Open in Honolulu, making birdies on half of his holes for an 8-under 62 that left him two shots out of the lead on Saturday.
Zach Johnson played bogey-free for a 66 and finished atop a leaderboard so crowded that a dozen players were separated by three shots.
"Two years ago, I just went out there to have fun," said Fujikawa, who tied for 20th as a 16-year-old amateur. "This year, I'm out there to win, and I know I can do it."
Fujikawak, 18, made believers out of the fans who stood four-deep around the greens to watch the 1.55-meter teen put on a show, pouring in birdie putts, pumping his fist and saluting the crowd who gave him a standing ovation on the 18th green.
A victory would make him the youngest winner in US PGA Tour history by nearly two years. Fujikawa turned 18 last week, and Johnny McDermott was 19 years and 10 months when he captured the US Open in 1911.
"I think he's got a bright future," said David Toms, who eagled the last hole for a 65 to join the group one shot behind. "Obviously, a guy that can shoot 62 on this golf course on Saturday of a PGA Tour event has got a lot of talent."
Johnson was at 10-under 200, one shot ahead of Toms, Shigeki Maruyama (68), Brian Gay (68) and Nathan Green (69). Fujikawa, who on Friday made the cut on the tour for the first time as a pro, was tied for sixth, two shots behind.
Geoff Ogilvy, who won the Mercedes-Benz Championship last week at Kapalua and was trying to join Ernie Els (2003) as the only players to sweep the Hawaii stops, had a 68 and was in the group at 7-under 203 that included Adam Scott (66).
Fujikawa was born 3 months premature, so small he fit into his grandfather's palm. He was given only a 50-percent chance to live and has been overcoming long odds ever since.
He qualified for the US Open at Winged Foot as a 15-year-old amateur, and as he tried to rebuild his confidence last year, his father was indicted on drug trafficking charges.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily January 19, 2009)
