RIFU, Miyagi Pref. (Kyodo) Fourth-year pro Hiroko Yamaguchi got off to a solid start in her quest for a second career title with a 6-under-par 66 in the first round of the Miyagi TV Cup Dunlop Ladies Open on Friday.

The 27-year-old, whose only previous victory on the JLPGA tour came at the 2001 Sankyo Ladies Open, took a three stroke lead over Yoko Tsuchiya and Hisako Takeda after rolling in six birdies in a bogey-free round at Rifu Golf Club.