A Front-Runner Expects To Fade

MIYAZAKI, Japan (AP) â€” Shingo Katayama leads the Dunlop Phoenix tournament by four strokes but suspects he won't remain in front for long. <br><br>``I don't think I'll win because I'll

Friday, November 17th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MIYAZAKI, Japan (AP) â€” Shingo Katayama leads the Dunlop Phoenix tournament by four strokes but suspects he won't remain in front for long.

``I don't think I'll win because I'll get nervous and stiff,'' said Katayama, who wears a cowboy hat on the course.

The Japanese player shot a 5-under-par 66 Friday for an 11-under 131 after two rounds. Scotland's Andrew Coltart (71) and Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke (69) shared second at 135.

First-round co-leader Ed Fryatt (72) was among a group at 136, while Masters champion Vijay Singh (73) had a poor back nine to fall 10 shots behind.

Defending champion Thomas Bjorn of Denmark pulled out before the round because he thinks he has a pinched nerve in his back.

Only two Japanese players â€” Jumbo Ozaki (three times) and Tommy Nakajima â€” have won the Dunlop Phoenix during its 26-year history. Katayama doubts he is good enough to become the third, even though he has won twice this year and is fifth on the Japanese money list.

He is not confident about the way he is hitting the ball, and he does not believe he has the stature to join a list of champions that includes Seve Ballesteros, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson and Ernie Els.

Katayama snaked in a 40-foot birdie putt on the first hole, added four more birdies before the turn, then parred the entire back nine.

``I am surprised to have shot 65-66 because my swing is mediocre at the moment,'' he said.

Clarke was satisfied with the quality of his game, if not his score.

``I hit the ball much better today than yesterday,'' he said. ``I had a lot of chances and didn't take them. It's just golf. Overall, 7 under for the tournament is pretty good.''

Coltart was delighted to still be in contention.

``I played terrible,'' he said. ``The way I was hitting it I could have thrown myself out of the tournament. From that respect it was a good round.''