Midori Yoneyama fired a flawless 5-under par 67 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Kosaido Ladies Golf Cup on Friday.
The 27-year-old Yoneyama knocked down three straight birdies from the fourth hole and added two more on either end of the back nine at the Chiba Kosaido Country Club as she aims to win her first title in almost two years.
Michiko Hattori, who finished a stroke ahead of Yoneyama in fourth at last week's Chukyo TV Bridgestone Ladies, birdied four of her last seven holes en route to a 68 and shares the second place with Taiwan's Wei Yun-jye and Lee Young Me of South Korea.
Watanabe on top
OARAI, Ibaraki Pref. (Kyodo) Tsukasa Watanabe fired a 6-under-par 66 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Diamond Cup.
American Todd Hamilton carded a bogey-free 67 over the Oarai Golf Club's 7,200-yard course and is tied for second place with four others, including Hidemasa Hoshino, winner of this month's Chunichi Crowns.