PORTHCAWL, Wales – Japan’s Eri Okayama and Rio Takeda shared the lead at 5-under par after the first round of the Women’s British Open on Thursday, with compatriot Miyu Yamashita placing alone in third a shot behind.
Chisato Iwai, Mao Saigo and Shiho Kuwaki were a further stroke behind in a 10-way tie for fourth as Japanese golfers made their mark on the last major of the year, staged at par-72 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales.
After opening with her lone bogey, Okayama ascended to the top of the leaderboard thanks to a strong front nine where she made five birdies before another arrived on the 17th.
“My tee shots were good, so I managed to finish without that many big problems,” the 29-year-old said. “I wasn’t imagining this at all.”
Takeda carded three birdies before taking a double bogey on the par-5 ninth hole, but recovered to add four more birdies on the back nine.
“It was good. I was able to quickly switch my mind and play,” she said. “I managed to perform really well, but it’s only the first day. You never know what’s going to happen on this course.”
The 22-year-old won her first title of her rookie LPGA season at the Blue Bay LPGA tournament in China in March before finishing second in the second major of the year in May at the U.S. Women’s Open.
Hinako Shibuno, the 2019 Women’s British Open champion, struggled to a 75 and sits tied for 105th.
AloJapan.com