AKA "smiley face" Kodai Ichihara, a past winner of this tournament, had a happy face put on all day today. He marked 8 birdies and played bogey free round finish as 1T after 1R.

"My putting was really well today."

As he recalled, he made 7-meter on 3rd to grab his first birdie of the day. Then after another on 4th, he made 10-meter on 5th to count 3 in a row.

"This course has so many traps. If you get caught in the trees, it's like paying 1 shot penalty. There are holes with very effective water hazards. So, you must have great accuracy to survive here."

Which he did and showed off his great performance. He scored 63 on the 1R in 2018 game, which he won by reversing 5 shot deficit and stole away the victory.

It was cancelled in 2019 but having an off-season training camp in Phoenix CC resumed this off season. Thanks to Toru Taniguchi, who hosts this training camp, Kodai and other disciples joined.

"I am grateful that Toru offers us the chance to play here during the off season. It is his privileges, and he shares it to us. We don't get to have that kind of chance often. Since I have been playing here so much, it feels like home away from home to me."

1R was dedicated to medical and health care workers, and every player wore something blue, and Kodai wore Miyazaki local apparel brand P'MAS and it was of course blue.

"I feel very relaxed in Miyazaki. I am getting so used to this course year by year. I also love the Miyazaki's delicacies, beef and chicken, and even eels. We have so many to choose from the great meals here."

His nickname "smiley face" was given during his Asian Tour challenge days. He is kindhearted and always smiling no matter how the tough situation he is at. But today he had bigger smile as he made a great rocket start on his favorite course.