Kumiko Hiyoshi fired a 3-under-par 69 to grab a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Kosaido Ladies Golf Cup on Friday.
Hiyoshi, hoping to add to her five Japan LPGA titles, made three birdies in the space of six holes from the par-5 sixth in a bogey-free round on the 6,260-yard, par-72 Chiba Kosaido Country Club course.
"I didn't get myself into any real trouble today," Hiyoshi said, adding she was concentrating more on distance in her putting rather than line.
Michie Oba, winner of last week's Chukyo TV Bridgestone event, carded four birdies and two bogeys to return a 70 and move into a three-way tie for second place with Kaori Harada and the event's defending champion, Tseng Hsui-feng of Taiwan.
Mineko Nasu and Fuki Kido, among the top 10 money winners on the tour this season, head up a group of six golfers sharing fifth place.
Fujita leads
OARAI, Ibaraki Pref. (Kyodo) Overnight co-leader Hiroyuki Fujita fired a second-round 66 Friday to grab sole possession of the lead midway through the Diamond Cup Tournament.
Fujita put together seven birdies against one bogey on his way to a 9-under-par 135 total at the Oarai Golf Club for a three-stroke lead over Colombian Eduardo Herrera.
U.S. teenage phenom Ty Tryon missed the cut by three shots after 75-73. Defending champion Hirofumi Miyase also went home after a two-day total of 150.