Namika Omata fired a 3-under 69 to grab sole possession of the clubhouse lead after the first round of the Japan Women's Open on Thursday.
Omata, a 27-year-old who is winless in her sixth year on the Japanese pro tour, made seven birdies against a bogey and a double bogey on the par-4 ninth hole for a one-stroke lead over Fuki Kido and Yukari Horikoshi at the Hiroshima Country Club in Hiroshima Prefecture.