Hannah Green takes share of early lead in Japan

Australian Hannah Green has reversed some indifferent recent form by taking a share of the opening round lead at the LPGA Tour’s Toto Championship in Shiga in Japan.

Green has won twice on the LPGA Tour this season, including when winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, but has been unable to record a finish better then 38th in her last four starts.

Today, however, she recorded an opening round of 67 at the Seta Golf Club today to lead along with Japan’s Ai Suzuki, the pair one shot ahead of a large group at 4 under 68 including Green’s in form fellow West Australian, Minjee Lee, and New Zealander Lydia Ko.

Victorian Su Oh was round in even par 72 to be tied for 40th.

“Very happy,” said Green. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a bogey-free round. Just very happy that I didn’t have any bogeys and then I was like really consistent throughout the whole entire round.

“Yeah, a very great year for me obviously having two wins and a major championship. I just wanted to make sure that during this Asia swing, even though there was no cut, that I didn’t try and breeze my way through and just focus on finishing strong through the end of the year.

“So now being in this position, definitely want to continue and hopefully have a win here and then just a strong finish at CME, which will be a nice way to finish and go to the off-season.”

Lee finished runner-up to Nelly Korda in Taiwan last week and appears on the verge of yet another LPGA Tour win. An eagle at her opening hole after holing out from the fairway and birdies at her final two holes provided great momentum heading into tomorrow’s second round in the 54-hole event.

With six of her nine previous rounds in the event in the 60’s, this is a layout that appears to suit Lee well and she shapes as a real threat over the weekend.

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