BANDO, Ibaraki Pref. (Kyodo) Brandt Jobe of the United States shot a bogey-free 7-under 64 to grab a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the Championship by Lexus on Thursday.

A six-time winner on the JGTO tour, Jobe opened his round with three consecutive birdies and added birdies on the seventh, ninth, 10th and 16th holes at Otone Country Club.

Jobe earned a 10-year exemption on the top-tier Japanese tour when he won the Japan PGA Championship in May 1998. He picked up two more wins that year and has shifted his playing base to the U.S. PGA Tour.