It is a packed leaderboard after the opening round of the Mizuno Classic in Japan. Local, Shiho Oyama, leads a group of to nine players by one stroke.

Oyama fired a four-under-par, 68 at the Kinetetsu Kashikojima Country Club. Her round got off to a flying start, posting four birdies in her opening nine holes including three consecutive birdies from the 5th hole. She went out in four-under 32, she got it to five-under with a birdie on the 10th, however the very next hole she posted her first bogey of the day. Another bogey and birdie coming in saw the Japanese player come home in even-par 36.

South Koreans Jiyai Shin, Hee-Won Han, Chella Choi, Eun-Bi Jang and Na-Ri Lee, Japan’s Kaori Nakamura and Junko Omote and Swede Pernilla Lindberg are all at three-under-par.

There are 35 players under-par and right in the tournament.

There are only two Australians in the field, Karrie Webb, a former winner of the event and Lindsey Wright. Webb is at even par and tied for 36th position. The seven time major winner carded three birdies and three bogeys.

Wright is one stroke further back and tied for 49th position.