Momoko Ueda and Ai Suzuki share the lead of the 50th TOTO Japan Classic after one lap, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, the only French driver, is in 30th place at -1 (71). The Japanese in force occupy eight of the first nine places, this Thursday at the Seta Golf Course in Shiga.

TOTO Japan Classic: Eight Japanese in the lead, Roussin Bouchard 30th

First Round Co-Leader Momoko Ueda – © SkySports for LPGA-JLPGA.

Pauline Roussin Bouchard in the 1st round of the TOTO Japan Classic – Photo credit Nathalie Janson

The Seta Golf Course in Shiga (Japan) is taken over by an armada of Japanese players, the Japanese players in force, occupy eight of the first nine places in the provisional classification, of this 50th edition of the TOTO Japan Classic. Endowed with 2 million dollars it brings together 42 LPGA members and 36 for the JLPGA (Japanese women's professional circuit).

Ai Suzuki, already the winner of the event in 2019 at the Seta Golf Course in Shiga, shares the lead at -7 (65) with his compatriot Momoko Ueda. Winner of that same tournament in 2021 – sanctioned only for ,,– 22-year-old Ayaka Furue, winner of the Scottish Open this summer, is one point behind with Sakura Koiwai

Freshly No. 1 in the world, the Thai Atthaya Thitikul must for the moment be content with a card of 71 (-1) and a thirtieth place which she shares with Pauline Roussin-Bouchard. The only Frenchwoman entered in this event, Alain Alberti's protege who left on par 10, took 11 pars before posting her first birdie on par 3 on par 3. A bogey on par 7 followed by a second birdie on 9 enabled her to return a map under par.

 

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TOTO Japan Classic: Pauline Roussin-Bouchard at the start of the 50th edition