Tomida takes lead in style

Masaya Tomida blitzed a nine-under-par 62 to take a three-shot lead after the first round of the Kansai Open in Hyogo.

The 31-year-old needed just 23 putts, 11 on the front nine, to complete his storming start to the tournament.

Tsuruya Open winner Tomida carded 10 birdies against just one solitary bogey after finding trouble on the par four seventh.

The Crowns champion Tetsuji Hiratsuka, Token Homemate Cup winner Koumei Oda and Kiyoshi Miyazato head the chasing pack at six under after beginning the week with rounds of 65, a shot clear of fifth-placed Hiroo Kawai.

Oda disappointingly dropped the second bogey of his round at the 18th which would have earned him second place outright, while Hiratsuka carded nine birdies but was let down by a double bogey at just his second hole of the day.

Amateurs Yoshinori Fujimoto and Naoto Nakanishi sit in a group of seven tied for sixth at four under.