Echavarria Leads Zozo Championship Amidst Strong Competition

Nico Echavarria leads the Zozo Championship after two rounds, scoring 64 on both days, maintaining a two-shot advantage. Justin Thomas and Taylor Moore follow closely, with Ricky Fowler and others in contention. Echavarria aims to stay ahead with a consistent performance, expressing excitement about his position.

Nico Echavarria emerged as the leader after the second round of the Zozo Championship in Japan, boasting impressive back-to-back rounds of 6-under 64. This stellar performance placed him two shots ahead of rivals Taylor Moore and Justin Thomas, who managed to shoot 64 and 67, respectively, at Narashino Country Club.

Despite not having held a lead at this stage in a tournament before, Echavarria, a University of Arkansas alumni and last year's winner in Puerto Rico, sits confidently at a total of 12-under 128. "It's good to be in this position. There's got to be some pressure," he affirmed, eyeing a successful round for his lead on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler, a Japanese culture enthusiast with familial ties to the country, sits four strokes off the lead after carding 64. Defending champion Collin Morikawa and Tokyo-connected Xander Schauffele also seek to close the gap as the tournament progresses through the weekend.

(With inputs from agencies.)