(Photo credit score: Carter Skaggs-USA TODAY Sports)
Akie Iwai carded a 9-under-par 63 to tie the match 18-hole scoring file on Thursday after the primary spherical of the LPGA’s Toto Japan Classic in Omitama, Japan.
Iwai holds a one-stroke lead over fellow Japanese golfers Nasa Hataoka, Yuna Nishimura and Mone Inami on the Taiheiyo Club, Minori Course.
“Not only the fairways and greens but also the rough are very beautiful this week. I like it very much and it makes me feel like I could play well this week,” Iwai stated of her record-tying spherical. “It is going to be a very tough birdie-chasing game this week, but I want to build a new record.”
Iwai recorded a birdie on every of her first three holes earlier than settling for a bogey on No. 4. She added one other birdie on No. 9 and an eagle on No. 12 earlier than ending with 4 extra birdies.
“Yes, indeed,” Iwai stated when requested if Thursday’s efficiency served as a snug spherical. “It has been a while since I had a comfortable round last time. Actually my shots are not consistent today but try not to think negatively. It works today.”
The final golfer to card a 63 on the Toto Japan Classic was China’s Shanshan Feng in 2017. Feng went on to win the occasion.
Hataoka, a six-time winner on the LPGA Tour, completed with three straight birdies and made six birdies on the again 9 general to offset a bogey on the par-3 thirteenth gap.
“(On No. 18) I was trying for two-putt, save par, but it was a good line and it just (got) in,” Hataoka stated. “… (On the) 17th hole, it is short par-5 so that hole I really want to birdie but on 16, par-3, was good 6-iron tee shot and I hit it good.”
Nishimura’s 64 tied her career-low spherical on the LPGA Tour.
“Actually I’m struggling in my first year as a rookie but I’m now pretty confident to play here and I’m trying to concentrate on the CME Globe at the end of the season.” Nishumura stated.
China’s Yu Liu and Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki every completed at 7-under, whereas China’s Xiyu Lin and Japan’s Sora Kamiya and Hikaru Yoshimoto resided at 6-under in a tie for seventh place.
Defending champion Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland was 5-under, whereas American Rose Zhang was 4 pictures again of Iwai after carding a 68.
–Field Level Media