Oyama Leads Mizuno Classic


Shiho Oyama fired a 4-under 68 to take the opening-round lead in the Mizuno Classic. The $1.2 million, 54-hole LPGA Tour event - part of the circuit's five events in Asia - began Friday at the Shima-Shi golf course in Mie, Japan.

Oyama carded six birdies and two birdies to forge a three-stroke lead over nine players - including South Koreans Jiyai Shin, Chella Choi, Hee-Won Han, Na-Ri Lee and Eun-Bi Jang, American Brittany Lincicome, Japan's Junko Omote and Kaori Nakamura, and Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg. Shin won the event in 2008 and '10.

Oyama said she's been experiencing physical problems but they cleared up Friday. "I have been having this neck ache that's been affecting my golf recently," she told reporters. "But yesterday I had some massage and the pain is gradually fading."

Defending champion Stacy Lewis had a 71. The American is the top-ranked player in the field at No. 3. "It was kind of up and down," the three-time winner this year said of her round.

"I probably could have played a lot better but I think it could have been worse. I played really tough through a lot of crosswinds and I just hung in there all day."

The top-two ranked players in the world, South Korean Inbee Park and Norway's Suzann Pettersen, aren't entered this week.

For updated scoring, visit www.lpga.com.