Tour veteran Kaori Higo shot a 5-under-par 67 in the first round of the Munsingwear Tokai Classic on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Yuri Fudo and two other players. Higo made a birdie-birdie start to her round and added four birdies on the back nine, including three of the final four holes, after making her only bogey on the par-3 No.7 at Ryosen Golf Club. Fudo fired a bogey-free 68 as she got off to a strong start to her bid to become the first player to win for three consecutive weeks since the Japan LPGA introduced the current tour system in 1988. The winner of the JLPGA money title the last five years, Fudo leapfrogged Ai Miyazato into the top spot on this year's money list after claiming back-to-back victories at the Golf 5 Ladies and the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup earlier this month.
