Americans Maintain Lead in USA-Japan Matches

Team USA splits second round matches for 20-16 advantage

TOCHIGI PREFECTURE , Japan — The United States leads Japan 20-16 following the second round of the 31st annual Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship at Sun Hills Country Club in Japan 's Tochigi prefecture.  The two sides split the second round singles matches to maintain the Americans four-point margin.
        
    Amanda Blumenherst claimed the first match of the day - 70-81 - to extend the American lead to six.   Japan rebounded to win the next two matches when Miki Saiki downed Tiffany Joh, 73-77, and Erina hara beat Irene Cho, 71-73.  Jane Park pushed the U.S. lead back to four with a 71-75 victory in the final women's match.
        
    Team USA would win the first two men's matches to extend its lead to 16-8.  Scott Brown downed Yuki Ito, 70-73, and Alex Coe came from behind to defeat Yohei Nakamichi, 70-72.  Dillon Dougherty halved his match with Masahiko Sanada at even-par 70 to maintain the eight-point lead before Yuta Ikeda beat Jake Ellison, 67-69, and Yuto Yasumoto defeated Colin Clark to cut the lead in half.  Erik Flores overcame a five-stroke deficit to half his match with Ayumi Kawamitsu at 71.   Japan would get within two after Toru nakajima's two-shot victory against Dustin Johnson before Andrew Dresser's 72-76 decision pushed the score to 20-16.  
        
    Final round action tees off Saturday at 8 a.m.