Midori Yoneyama birdied the last two holes of a 4-under-par 68 on Friday to grab a share of the lead with fellow third-year pros Shiho Katano and Suzuka Kanazawa at the 60 million yen Munsingwear Ladies Tokai Classic golf tournament.
Yoneyama, winner of the Saishunkan Ladies event in April, carded five birdies and a bogey through tricky winds sweeping the Ryosen Golf Club's 6,388-yard course in Mie Prefecture for a share of the lead after the first round of play.
Meanwhile, Katano knocked down seven birdies, giving three strokes back on bogeys, to grab a spot at the top of the leaderboard for the first time in her career, while Kanazawa finds herself tied for the lead after the first round for a second straight week.
"Tomorrow will be the key. Last week, I fired a 78 on the second day and finished eighth, so I'll do my best here," said Kanazawa, referring to last week's Japan LPGA Championship.
Sato in charge
KITAHIROSHIMA, Hokkaido (Kyodo) Money-rankings leader Nobuhito Sato ran in three straight birdies on the back side of his second straight 68 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead midway through the 100 million yen ANA Open golf tournament.
Sato, winner of the Japan PGA Championship tourney in May, carded six birdies and a pair of bogeys on the Sapporo Golf Club's 7,063-yard Wattsu Course for an 8-under total of 136 as he targets his third tour title of the year.
Overnight co-leader Christian Pena of the United States went around with three birdies and a bogey for a 70, slipping a stroke behind Sato at 137.