Shinobu Moromizato shot a 4-under 69 to share the lead with defending champion Miho Koga and Akane Iijima after the first round of the CAT Ladies on Friday.
Moromizato, who replaced Sakura Yokomine as the JLPGA money rankings leader after last week's runnerup finish at the NEC Karuizawa 72, had six birdies against a pair of bogeys, while Koga, top earner on the Japanese circuit last season, and Iijima each made five birdies and one bogey at the par-73 Daihakone Country Club in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Yokomine, Yuko Mitsuka and veteran Akiko Fukushima were one shot back in an eight-way tie for fourth.