IBARAKI, JAPAN: Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn chipped in for birdie on the final hole on Friday for a 6-under-par 66 and a share of the lead in the Toto Japan Classic, the LPGA Tour's first tournament in the Tokyo area since 1991.
The world No.2 birdied six of the last 11 holes in a bogey-free round at fan-packed Taiheiyo Club, holing out from 35 feet on the par-4 18th to join Soo-Yun Kang atop the first-round leaderboard. The 20-year-old Thai star also chipped in on the par-4 10th.
"I played good,'' Ariya said. "I missed a few tee shots, but I made some putts and those chips.''
She leads the LPGA Tour with five victories and has a 13-point lead over New Zealand's Lydia Ko in the Player of the year standings, not that she's looking that far ahead.
"Right now, no,'' Ariya said "I just try to have fun and enjoy every shot that I hit the ball. That's what I'm trying to do.''
After a week in steamy and stormy Malaysia, the players wore jackets and sweaters in cool conditions on the pine tree-lined Minori Course. Ariya tied for 43rd in Kuala Lumpur after finishing third the previous week in China.
"Last week, I was just a little bit off with my tee shot,'' she said. "Today, I just tried to be a little bit more positive and not think about last week and try to have more fun.''
Kang birdied three of her final four holes
"I had really good putting,'' Kang said. "Only 22 putts.''
The 40-year-old South Korean player won the LPGA Tour's 2005 Safeway Classic and is now a regular on the Japan LPGA. She won the Suntory Ladies in June for her second Japanese title.
"I like Japan, people here, foods, and everything,'' Kang said.
Stacy Lewis and Jenny Shin shot 67. Lewis won the 2012 event at Kintetsu Kashikojima
Ha Na Jang and Sandra Gal were two strokes back at 68 in the sixth and final event on the LPGA Tour's fall Asian swing. Jang won last month in Taiwan for her third victory of the year.
China's Shanshan Feng, the winner in Malaysia, topped the group at 69 along with Minjee Lee, Suzann Pettersen, Cristie Kerr, So Yeon Ryu and 2008 and 2010 winner Jiyai Shin. Lee won two weeks ago in China for her second victory of the year. Shin won the JLPGA event last week in Saitama.
The top-ranked Ko had a 74, making two birdies and four bogeys.
"I didn't strike the ball very well,'' Ko said. "The driver and irons, nothing was really clicking and when it's like that overall it's really hard to give yourself a lot of birdie opportunities. I struck the ball a little better on the back nine, but still it wasn't great.''