Kumiko Hiyoshi birdied three of four short holes on her way to a 5-under-par 67 Friday and a one-stroke lead after the first round of the 100 million yen Vernal Ladies golf tournament.
Hiyoshi, the winner of the last year's Japan LPGA Championship title, carded seven birdies and a pair of bogeys at the Fukuoka Century Golf Club for a one-stroke advantage over Riko Higashio.
Backwell, Sato surge
TSUKIGASE, Nara Pref. (Kyodo) Australia's Richard Backwell and Hideyuki Sato shot 3-under-par 69s in gusty conditions Thursday to grab the first-round lead in the Japan PGA Championship.
Backwell, seeking his third win on the Japanese tour, carded six birdies and three bogeys over the KOMA Country Club's 7,048-yard, par-72 course to earn a share of the lead with Sato.