Leona Maguire is off to a good start at the LPGA’s TOTO Japan Classic at Seta Golf Course and finds herself tied for 15th at the end of the first day’s action.
Making her third and final start of the LPGA’s late-season Asian swing, Maguire birdied two of her opening three holes and followed up with six pars to reach the turn at -2. But, having started on the back nine which features three par-5s in those closing six holes, she’ll be a little disappointed not to have picked up a couple of strokes more.
A bogey on the par-3 third was immediately rectified with a birdie on four and she moved to -3 with her fourth and final birdie of the day which came on six, and that’s how she’d stay, joining a 19-strong party at three-under.
But they all find themselves six shots off the pace which was set by local star Hana Wakimoto. The LPGA of Japan Tour player went bogey-free and carded nine birdies – five of these on her second nine – to take first round leader honours with two shots to spare over former world number one Jin Young Ko, who occupies solo second place.
27-year-old Wakimoto has yet to win on the LPGA Japan circuit and lies 35th in the Tour’s Mercedes Rankings, but could find herself promoted to the LPGA Tour proper should she continue in the rich vein of form she showed in the opening round.
Linn Grant, Ayaka Furue, Hyo Joo Kim and Jenny Shin form a strong chasing party in a tie for third at -6.
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