ICHIHARA, Chiba Pref. (Kyodo) Miho Koga chipped in with key points to help give the Japan LPGA team a slender lead over the men after the first round of the Three Tours Championship on Friday.
Fresh from capturing her first JLPGA money title, Koga collected a combined total of five points in the singles and best ball doubles as the women closed with a 0.5 point lead over a men's team featuring teen phenom Ryo Ishikawa. The senior team was another two points back.
"Ryo birdieing the ninth hole in the (doubles) first stage tied the score and that hurt," said Koga, who paired up with veteran Akiko Fukushima in the doubles. "But at the end of the day LPGA has a 0.5 point lead and that 0.5 lead could turn out to be significant tomorrow."
Ishikawa, who was named Rookie of the Year on Monday after a sparkling first full season on the JGTO circuit, teamed up with Azuma Yano in the doubles and also made five-point contribution for his team.