Veteran Masahiro Kuramoto sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the fifth hole en route to a 7-under-par 65 for a one-stroke sole lead after the first round of the 100 million yen Woodone Open Hiroshima tournament on Thursday.
Toshimitsu Izawa, winner of last week's Japan Golf Tour Championship, birdied the final three holes on the 7,010-yard Happommatsu Course to share second place with Dinesh Chand of Fiji.
Omote sets record
KITAHIROSHIMA, Hokkaido (Kyodo) Junko Omote brandished a hot putter as she fired a bogey-free 7-under-par 65 to set a course record for a four-stroke lead after the first round Friday of the Toyo Suisan Ladies Hokkaido golf tournament.Teeing off at Sapporo Kitahiroshima Prince Golf Course, the 29-year-old Omote one-putted for birdies on the front nine and kept the momentum going after making the turn as she birdied five of the last seven holes on the 6,445-yard course.
Toshimi Kimura made a chip-in eagle on the par-5 fifth en route to a 69 to share second place with Megumi Higuchi.