Mitsuki Kobayashi set the early pace at the SONY JLPGA Championship on Thursday with a first round four-under-par 68 to snatch the clubhouse lead before lightning and thunderstorm risks forced officials to suspend play for the day.
50 players will resume their first round at 7.00am (local time). The SONY JLPGA Championship which is broadcast internationally in key markets in the Asia Pacific, including Singapore, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The event features a 132-strong field, including an 18-strong contingent of international talent, headlined by former champion and veteran Shin Jiyai of South Korea, along with players from Thailand, Chinese Taipei and China.
Teeing off on the back-nine 10, Kobayashi got off to a hot start with two birdies in her opening three holes. She picked up another shot on 16 to turn in 33 at the Oarai Golf Club.
The 23-year-old, who is searching for her JLPGA breakthrough this week, bogeyed the first hole after the turn but responded quickly with a birdie on the next hole before adding a pair of birdies on holes seven and eight to her card.
She dropped another shot on nine to reach the clubhouse in 68.
“I feel like I was able to play almost perfect golf. My putting was really good, but I think the driver stood out the most since I was able to keep my tee shots on the fairway. Recently, my driver shot was unstable-sometimes good, sometimes not. Even in the practice rounds, I was missing fairways and ending up in the trees. But yesterday, I checked my address and I was able to play much better today,” said Kobayashi.
When asked about her strategy for tomorrow, with a tightly packed leaderboard ahead, Kobayashi said: “I want to make sure I keep putting my tee shots on the fairway and then make chances from there.”
Meanwhile, Shiho Kuwaki will have the opportunity to take over the lead as she is four-under through 14 holes. The 22-year-old has yet to drop a shot, picking up birdies on holes four, 11, 12 and 13 before having her momentum halted by the inclement weather.
“I had a good start by making some solid par saves early in the round, and that helped me get into a good rhythm. This is my first time playing Oarai Golf Club, and I knew it would be tough if the wind picked up, so I had prepared for that, but it didn’t blow as much as I expected, which also helped me play well.
“I do want to win and Oarai is a tough course, but I feel like it suits me, so I want to enjoy the next three days,” said Kuwaki.
Thailand’s P.K Kongkraphan signed for a 72 to stay four shots off the lead while Trichat Cheenglab is three-under through 13 holes.
Despite a nervy start with two bogeys on holes six and seven in her front-nine, Kongkraphan recovered well with a flawless back-nine where she picked up birdies on holes 11 and 13.
“The conditions were not easy today as the winds picked up in the afternoon when we started play. But I’m proud of how I grinded it out and finished even par. It’s a good experience playing in this tournament. It has a major feel and I can only improve by playing in big tournaments like this one,” said the Thai.
Live Broadcast of the SONY JLPGA Championship
Live online streaming/broadcast of this week’s SONY JLPGA Championship is available in the selected markets below:
| Territory | Broadcaster |
| Malaysia | Astro https://www.astro.com.my |
| Philippines | Tap https://www.tapdmv.com/index.html |
| Taiwan | Sportcast https://sportcast.com.tw/ |
| Singapore | Starhub https://www.starhub.com/personal.html |
| Australia | Fox https://www.foxsports.com.au/ |
| Vietnam | FPT https://fpt.com/en |
| Thailand | TRUE https://www.true.th/en |
