Local favorite Aki Takamura got out of her sick bed to shoot a 2-under-par 70 Friday and take a one-shot lead in the first round of the 60 million yen Saishunkan Ladies golf tournament in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Former U.S. LPGA tour winner Ayako Okamoto, meanwhile, rolled back the years with a 1-under 71 to move into second place just one stroke off the lead at Kumamoto Kuko Country Club alongside Fumiko Muraguchi and Harumi Sakagami.