OTSU, Japan (AP) — Japanese golfers Nasa Hataoka and Miyu Yamashita each fired a 7-under 65 on Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the LPGA’s Toto Japan Classic.
Hataoka is aiming for her seventh title on the LPGA Tour, while Yamashita is pursuing her third. South Korea’s Shin Ji-yai sits just one stroke behind the leaders. Meanwhile, three more Japanese players—twin sisters Chisato Iwai and Akie Iwai, along with Minami Katsu—are two shots back at the Seta Golf Club in western Japan.
With a very competitive field, eight other golfers are three strokes off the pace. Among them is Australia’s Minjee Lee, who won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship earlier this year, marking her third major title.
Defending champion Rio Takeda had a challenging day, finishing with a 1-over 73 and sitting eight strokes behind the leaders.
