Jeev Milkha Singh, still looking for his first victory since 1999, fired one-under 71 in the second round of the Yen 120 million Coca Cola Tokai Classic at the par-72 Miyoshi Country Club West Course in Tokyo.
Jeev, who had shot a superb 65 in the first round, is now eight-under 136 and in tied second place with Sushi Ishigaki at 136.
Yeh Wei-Tze of Taipei took over the lead with a brilliant five-under 67 and a total of 135.
Three others including Takuya Taniguchi are lying tied for fourth at 137.
This year Jeev has had three top-10 finishes including a tied second at season-opening Okinawa Open, and four other finishes in top-25. He is 44th on the Money List.
Jeev, the overnight leader, had five birdies and four bogeys in the second round, during which his putting was at best patchy.
In the flawless first round, he had five birdies and an eagle and just 26 putts, but on the second day, he took no less than 31 putts, including a three-putt bogey. Also letting him down was his driving accuracy, which dropped to just 50 per cent.
Jeev had three birdies and three bogeys on the back nine, which was his first nine having started on the tenth hole.
He opened with two birdies but bogeys on the fifth and sixth brought him down to par. A birdie on the seventh was neutralised by a bogey on the ninth and he turned in even par.
On the second nine, he had birdies on 12th and 15th and a bogey on the 16th.
