Miyazato and Ikemura share opening honours

Yusaku Miyazato and Tomoyo Ikemura both produced blistering nine-under-par 63s to share a two-shot lead after the first round of the inaugural ASO Iizuka Challenged Golf Tournament on Thursday.

On a day when low scores were abundant, Miyazato, a seven-time JGTO winner but not since 2017, fired an eagle and seven birdies in a flawless round at the ASO Iizuka Golf Club, while Ikemura, not to be outdone, grabbed 10 birdies against a lone bogey as they topped the leaderboard.

Tomoharu Otsuki, who claimed his second runner-up finish of the season at the Japan Golf Tour Championship last week, continued his pursuit of a second Tour win by carding a 65 after mixing three eagles and three birdies with two bogeys.

Australia's Brad Kennedy and South Korea's Hyun Woo Ryu were among the group chasing on 66 together with Ryo Okamura, Keisuke Otawa, Taihei Sato and Ryuko Tokimatsu.

It was indeed a surprise to many that the 41-year-old Miyazato was among the early pace-setters, given his poor form and injury predicament.

Miyazato had missed four cuts in a row starting from the Diamond Cup before being forced to pull out after last week's Tour Championship opening round due to pain in his lower back.

He didn't even play the practice round as he wanted to give his back more time to heal.

"My hips still not feeling very well, so I'm swinging it carefully," said Miyazato, best known for his imperious form in the 2017 season, where he won four times and finished runner-up twice.

"Thankfully, my putting was good, which led to this score.

"It might be better not to know this green. I haven't done a practice round, so I was relying heavily on my caddy hit my shots according to his guide."

Miyazato has refused to get carried away despite the good start, saying that making the cut still remains his big goal tomorrow.

"I will do my best to make the cut tomorrow," he said.

"That's the ideal goal for now after five tournaments without making the weekend rounds."