LIVE: Kobori one back at Webex Players Series Murray River
New Zealand's Momoka Kobori is just one stroke off the lead midway through Round 1 of the Webex Players Series Murray River played in honour of Jarrod Lyle.
New South Welshman Lincoln Tighe looked set to match the course record set by Tom Power Horan 12 months ago but left a par putt on the last agonisingly short.
His 8-under 63 was the best of the morning wave at Cobram Barooga Golf Club, one clear of Kobori, Andrew Martin (64), Austin Bautista (64) and Jake McLeod (64).
Buoyed by a top-15 finish at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open and retention of her Ladies European Tour card at Qualifying School to end 2023, Kobori finished in a flurry on Thursday.
A 9-iron to eight feet set up birdie at the par-3 fifth which she followed with an eagle at the par-5 sixth. A final birdie at the par-3 ninth not only made her the leading WPGA player in the morning field but was one better than younger brother Kazuma (65).
As the afternoon groups tee off there are 11 WPGA Tour members inside the top 21 on the leaderboard, Victorian Jessica Boyce the best of the Aussies after a bogey-free round of 6-under 65.
The final two rounds of the Webex Players Series Murray River will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo, the third round coverage to begin at 4pm on Saturday with final round to be broadcast live from 2pm-7pm AEDT.