YOKOHAMA \u2013 Keith Mitchell shot a 6-under 65 on Friday to share the top of the leaderboard at the PGA’s Baycurrent Classic with first-round leader Jacob Bridgeman.<\/p>\n
Bridgeman finished with a 68 on a sunny golfing<\/a> day to go with his opening 63 at the Yokohama Country Club.<\/p>\n The two leaders were two shots clear of a group of four including Ben Kohles who had a 9-under 62, the low round of the day. Also two shots back of the lead were Mac Meissner (68), Max Homa (68) and Zack Bouchou (64),<\/p>\n The PGA Tour\u2019s lone stop in Asia features its strongest field of the FedEx Cup Fall series, with 13 of the 24 players who competed in the Presidents Cup<\/a> two weeks ago at Medinah in the Chicago suburbs.<\/p>\n Mitchell said the enthusiastic gallery helped him, and he said he spends time researching the Japanese food scene before he makes the trip.<\/p>\n \u201cI love it over here. It\u2019s always on my schedule,\u201d he said. \u201cI love Japan. I think just the energy here just helps me play a little bit better for some reason.\u201d<\/p>\n Bridgeman had what might be described as a grinding round. But he got it done.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t quite have the same game I had yesterday today so it was a little bit more difficult to make as many birdies, but I think I kind of realized that early and was able to play kind of conservative and plot my way around the course,\u201d he said. “Navigated it pretty good, was able to post a good number.<\/p>\n Japan’s top star, Hideki Matsuyama, shot a 1-over 72 and was eight shots off the lead. Xander Schauffele carded a 69 and was also eight shots back.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n