Yoshinori Mizumaki opened with a 5-under-par 66 despite a steady rain Thursday to grab a one-stroke lead on the first day of the 100 million yen JCB Classic Sendai golf tournament.
Mizumaki, who won the event in 1993 and 1998, was steady in his tour of the Omotezao Kokusai Golf Club's 6,659-yard, par-71 course layout in Miyagi Prefecture for the lead over Toshiaki Odate, Saburo Fujiki and Kazumasa Sakaitani.
Fujiki, seeking his first tour victory in a decade, also turned in a bogey-free round with four birdies for a share of second at 67 while Sakaitani sandwiched six birdies between a pair of bogeys.
Taichi Teshima, meanwhile, ran in three birdies to stand alone in fifth with a 3-under 68.
Defending champion Nobuhito Sato needed an extra stroke to navigate the course and returned to the clubhouse tied for 38th with a 72 while Masashi Ozaki is another stroke back in 57th.