Nasa Hataoka and Miyu Yamashita each recorded rounds of 65 on Thursday to take the lead in their home country at the LPGA’s Toto Japan Classic.
After rounds of 7-under 65, they stand a stroke ahead of Ji-yai Shin of South Korea, who carded a 66 at Seta Golf Course in Otsu in the western part of the country.
Hataoka is pursuing her seventh LPGA Tour championship and Yamashita her third.
The latter won last week at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she charged from eight shots back entering the final round to win.
To win this week, Hataoka and Yamashita will need to fend off a trio of Japanese women who tallied 67s on Thursday — twin sisters Chisato and Akie Iwai, along with Minami Katsu — to sit two strokes behind.
Yamashita had a fast answer to the root of her success recently.
“Putting. That brings a good round last two weeks,” she said.
Hataoka also was pleased with her opening round, especially with a home crowd behind her.
“I had a great round today, very solid,” she said. “And yeah, I’m very glad to play golf in my home country and in front of so many Japanese fans.”
The leaders will look to create separation from the field on Friday. Eight more women are tied for seventh place, at 4-under par.
The group includes Australia’s Minjee Lee, owner of three major titles, and Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand, who won her major title at the Chevron Championship in 2021.
Defending champion Rio Takeda of Japan enters the second round eight strokes off the pace after a 1-over round of 73.
