Hwang Yu-min, who finished tied for seventh on the opening day of the tournament. [Herald Sports DB]
Hwang Yu-min, who finished tied for seventh on the opening day of the tournament. [Herald Sports DB]

Hwang Yu-min opened the Toto Japan Classic — the final event of the LPGA Tour's Asian Swing, with a purse of $2.1 million — tied for seventh place.

Playing Thursday at the Taiheiyo Club Minori Course (par 72) in Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, Hwang carded a bogey-free 4-under-par 68, collecting four birdies to share seventh place with defending champion Hataoka Nasa of Japan. Hwang birdied the fourth hole, then posted a string of pars before back-to-back birdies at the 12th and 13th holes and another at the 16th for a four-stroke gain on the day.

Yamashita Miyu of Japan, who claimed her third win of the season last week at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia, fired a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 — six birdies in all — to share the lead with compatriots Iwai Aki and Takahashi Sayaka.

Ranked fourth in the world, Yamashita would move into a tie for the season lead in wins at four — level with world No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States and No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand — if she wins for the second consecutive week.

Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand shot a 5-under-par 67 to join Hiruta Minami and Suga Fuka, both of Japan, in a tie for fourth.

Jeon In-ji posted a 3-under-par 69 — four birdies, one bogey — to sit tied for 16th alongside Kang Min-ji and Japan's Kuwaki Shiho.

Hara Erika of Japan, Hwang's closest rival in the Rookie of the Year race, carded a 2-under-par 70 to finish tied for 26th, a group that also included Lee Mi-hyang, Hannah Green of Australia, Iwai Chiji and Yoshida Yuri of Japan.

Kim Hyo-joo, considered a title contender, managed just one birdie for a 1-under-par 71 and sits tied for 40th. Veteran Shin Ji-ae, who recently secured a lifetime exemption on the Japan LPGA Tour, struggled to a 2-over-par 74 — two birdies against four bogeys — and is tied for 67th.


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