KONAN, Kochi Pref. (Kyodo) Ayako Uehara wielded a hot putter en route to an 8-under 64 in the opening round of the Yokohama Tire PGR Ladies Cup on Friday.
Uehara, who won her career first title at last year's Fuji Sankei Ladies Classic in April, made eight birdies in a bogey-free round for a five-stroke lead on Yayoi Arasaki at Tosa Country Club.
She shrugged off the windy conditions to pick up three shots before making the turn at 33 and had consecutive birdies on Nos. 11, 12 and 13 and again on the 15th and 16th holes.
South Korean Hwang Ah Reum was a further stroke back in third after shooting 70 while Shinobu Moromizato, Lee Ji Hee of South Korea and Kaori Aoyama shared fourth on 1-under.