Tour veteran Chiharu Nakajima produced a 1-under-par 71 Friday to take the lead after the first round of the Vernal Ladies tournament.
Nakajima carded three birdies, including a 60-foot chip-in on the 403-yard sixth, against two bogeys to emerge as the only player to go under par on the Fukuoka Century Golf Club's tough layout.
Defending champion Yuri Fudo joined veteran Michiko Hattori and fifth-year pro Nahoko Hirao in a three-way tie for second.