Keiko Arai, one of the lesser lights on the Japanese LPGA tour, produced a solid 4-under-par 68 to grab sole possession of the lead after the first round of the 100 million yen Elleair Ladies Open on Friday.
Arai, attempting to win her first title since 1995 and only the second since turning pro in 1992, made five birdies against a lone bogey at the Elleair Club to establish a one-stroke lead over a multinational sextet of players tied for second place.
South Korean duo Shin Sora and Lee O Soon, Taiwan's Wei Yun-jye and Fumiko Muraguchi all went round in 69 while another South Korean Kim Ae Sook and Riko Higashio both had 70s to sit another stroke back.