THE SIDELINES : Green Shoots Day’s Best Score for One-Stroke Lead in Japan

American Hubert Green shot a 67--the day’s best score--for a one-stroke lead today at the halfway mark of the $714,000 Casio World Open golf tournament.

Green, winner of the tournament in 1985, sank a 6-foot birdie putt on the 508-yard, par-5 18th hole to wrest the lead from first-round pacesetter Naomichi Ozaki of Japan.

Green also had seven birdies and three bogeys over the 7,014-yard, par-72 Kaimon course of the Ibusuki Golf Club. He completed the two trips at 135, 9 under par.

“I am now in top shape,” Green said. “I’m shooting at will, and my putting was also pretty good.”

Ozaki, coming off consecutive second-place finishes, carded a 70. Toru Nakamura of Japan was alone in third place at 137.

Larry Mize, winner of last week’s Dunlop Phoenix tournament, shot a 71 to drop to a fourth-place tie with fellow American Mark Calcavecchia at 138. The British Open champion carded a 69.