Tokyo, Sept 22, 2012 (AFP) - It was Uehira's best score of the week and took him to a total of 14-under-par 199, but nine players remain within four shots off the pace at the 150 million yen ($1.9 million) event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
Philippine sensation Juvic Pagunsan is in second. The reigning Asian Tour number one, he was leading for most of the round but dropped bogeys on 13 and 15 to settle for 67 at the Higashi Hirono Golf Club in Hyogo, southern Japan.
Japanese Tomohiro Kondo, Koumei Oda and Masahiro Kawamura were a further shot back while overnight leader Hiroyuki Fujita posted a 70 to lie in tied sixth place on 202.
Wu Ashun (67) of China, who played on the Asian Tour in 2008 and 2009, and Darren Beck (70) of Australia both shot hole-in-ones on holes seven and 11 respectively and are four shots back.
Uehira, who has yet to win on the Japan Golf Tour, surprised even himself when he jumped into the lead courtesy of sharp shooting iron play and two closing birdies.
"I want to be able to play the game without any stress. I had many birdie chances from good distances. I wanted to stay close to the top but didn't expect to be leading," said Uehira.
"Somehow, my swing felt really good at the practice range and I kind of brought the form with me into the round. It is going to be an exciting final round. Let's hope it goes in my favour," added the 34-year-old.
Scores after round 2 of the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open (par 71)
199 - Masamichi Uehira (JPN) 66-68-65.
200 - Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 67-66-67.
201 - Tomohiro Kondo (JPN) 66-69-66, Masahiro Kawamura (JPN) 70-65-66, Koumei Oda (JPN) 64-69-68.
202 - Yusaku Miyazato (JPN) 64-70-68, Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 64-68-70.
203 - Wu Ashun (CHN) 67-69-67, Hideto Tanihara (JPN) 67-67-69, Darren Beck (AUS) 68-65-70.
204 - Cameron Smith (AUS) 67-71-66, Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 70-68-66, Hwang Jung-Gon (KOR) 67-70-67, Shiv Kapur (IND) 67-68-69.