South Korea's Jeong Yun Joo fired a 6-under-par 66 to take the sole lead at the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup on Thursday.
Jeong carded six birdies in a bogey-free round, featuring three birdies in her first four holes en route to taking a one stroke lead over Shiho Oyama, who shot a 67 at Meishin Yokaichi Country Club in Shiga Prefecture. Kasumi Fujii was three shots back in a three-way share of third after a round of 70 while Ai Miyazato shot a 71 to sit in a large group including Sakura Yokomine in sixth. Yuri Fudo struggled to a 2-over 74.
INZAI, Chiba Pref. (Kyodo) Yasuharu Imano carded a bogey-free 5-under-par 65 to share the first-round lead with veteran Hiroshi Goda in the Suntory Open on Thursday.
Imano capped his round with a 21-foot birdie putt on the 17th at the par-70 Suntory Country Club.