Hisayuki Sasaki jump-started his way to possibly winning his first tour title in seven years Thursday when he took a one-shot lead over Toshimitsu Izawa with an opening round 6-under-par 66 at the ABC Championship.
Sasaki, who has been winless since the Daido Shizuoka Open in 1997, teed off on the back nine and carded three birdies each before and after the turn in a bogey-free round, while Izawa, winner of the ABC Championship in 2001, had one less birdie and no bogey.