Suzuki and Udea tied atop Toto Japan Classic after 1st round

By: The Associated Press Posted: 3:15 AM CDT Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022 Last Modified: 9:01 AM CDT Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022

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SHIGA, Japan (AP) — Japanese players Ai Suzuki and Momoko Ueda each shot 7-under 65s on Thursday to sit atop the first-round leaderboard at the LPGA Tour's Toto Japan Classic.

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SHIGA, Japan (AP) — Japanese players Ai Suzuki and Momoko Ueda each shot 7-under 65s on Thursday to sit atop the first-round leaderboard at the LPGA Tour's Toto Japan Classic.

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SHIGA, Japan (AP) — Japanese players Ai Suzuki and Momoko Ueda each shot 7-under 65s on Thursday to sit atop the first-round leaderboard at the LPGA Tour’s Toto Japan Classic.

Two other Japanese player were a shot behind: Ayaka Furue and Sakura Koiwai. The tournament is being played at the Seta Golf Club in Shiga, Japan.

Furue is the defending champion and Suzuki won the event in 2019.

FILE - Ai Suzuki, of Japan, watches her shot off the second tee during the first round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C., on June 2, 2022. Japanese players Suzuki and Momoko Ueda each shot 7-under 65s on Thursday, Nov. 3, to sit atop the Toto Classic after the first round. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

Miyu Yamashita, another Japanese player, was two strokes behind after a 67.

Suzuki said she has been struggling with her swing and hired a new swing coach, which did not work out.

“Then I made a decision to play without a coach anymore, and it just started to go well,” she said. “I feel like I could have gone to 10-under today.”

Ueda said she has also made recent adjustments.

“I changed the shaft for my driver and also my putter,” Ueda said. “I normally do not change my putter very often, but it works very well this week.”

Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand, the LPGA’s new No. 1-ranked player, shot a 71. She is only the second player under the age to 20 to reach No. 1. She turns 20 next year on Feb. 20.

Lydia Ko of New Zealand reached No. 1 in 2015 when she was only 17 year old.

Japanese player Ayaka Furue watches her tee shot on the 5th hole at the LPGA Tour's Toto Japan Classic at the Seta Golf Club in Shiga, Japan Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (Kyodo News via AP)

“Being No. 1 in pressure,” Thitikul said earlier in the week. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be No. 1 in the world — but at least it’s just a ranking.”

Canada’s Maude-Aimée Leblanc struggled and finished the first round with a five-over 77 (plus-5). The Sherbrooke , Que. native sits in last place heading into Round 2.

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