Tom McKibbin three off lead at ISPS Handa Championship's halfway mark

Tom McKibbin is three shots off the lead at the halfway point of the ISPS Handa Championship in Japan.

The Antrim native carded a strong six-under 64 in Friday's second round to move up to seven under and within sight of the leaders.

His bogey-free day featured birdies on two, four, eight and 11 with the highlight of his round being an eagle on the par-5 third.

There is a four-way tie for the lead which is shared by England's Sam Bairstow, Sweden's Sebastian Soderberg, Germany's Yannik Paul and local favourite Taihei Sato.

LEADERBOARD

After round one was completed on Friday morning following Thursday's fog delay, Bairstow added a 64 to his opening 66 at Taiheiyo Club to set the clubhouse target on 10 under par.

That total was soon matched by Soderberg and Paul with rounds of 64 and 65 respectively, before Sato completed a superb 62 to make it a four-way tie.

England's Matthew Southgate and Frenchman Tom Vaillant were two strokes off the lead after rounds of 65, with Japan's Taiki Yoshida also eight under par with three holes of his second round to complete when play resumes on Saturday.

"Yesterday with the delay it was nice to finish with a couple of birdies, then come out this morning to finish strong and take it into the second round," Bairstow, who is seeking a first DP World Tour title, said.

"I'm just keeping things simple, sometimes you can overthink it. Keeping my swing feels and putting stroke simple, and trying to enjoy it. Will try to do more of the same (over the weekend)."

Sato, who made nine birdies and a solitary bogey in his 62, said: "I've been hitting it well for the past two days so I'm feeling good.

"I missed the cut last year so my goal was just to make the cut. I didn't really think about it too much, but I