The first round of the TOTO Japan Classic ended this Thursday morning on Japanese soil. In the lead, the Japanese Akie Iwai is at -9 while the defending champion, the Scottish Gemma Dryburgh, is in the top 10 at -5.
The locals are in good form at the start of the tournament. With 12 Japanese women in the top 10, the first round of the TOTO Japan Classic went rather well for them. Among them, Akie Iwai established herself as provisional leader after achieving a card of 63 (-9). A player on the JLPGA (Japan Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association), the world No. 36 scored an eagle on hole No. 12, 8 birdies and a bogey. The 21-year-old has already won three tournaments this year and is on a quest to win her first LPGA title.
She is closely followed at -8 by her compatriots Mone Inami and Yuna Nishimura, authors of a bogey-free card with 8 birdies. World No. 17 Nasa Hataoka, winner of the tournament in 2018, is also in second position. The 24-year-old made 9 birdies and one bogey on the Taiheiyo Club course.
