Jakarta, Indonesia: With an appropriately imperious performance, Yutaka Toyoshima marked the opening-round of the inaugural Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Mid-Amateur Championships with a sizzling birdie barrage.

Making light of humid conditions at the Gading Raya Golf Club, the five-time Japan Mid-Amateur Championship winner posted an accomplished six-under-par 66 to soar to the top of the leaderboard.

“I played very solidly,” said the 48-year-old from Saitama Prefecture, who delivered a masterclass in course management. He didn’t miss a fairway off the tee and hit 16 greens in regulation. Such was the accuracy of Toyoshima’s approach shots that all seven of his birdie putts were converted from within 12 feet.

He singled out his five-wood second shot from 245 yards to within 25 feet of the cup at the par-five 10th hole as his shot of the day. He duly two-putted for birdie.

The only blemish on Toyoshima’s card came at the par-three 12th where he missed the green on the right and narrowly failed to get up-and-down.

Nonetheless, with 36 holes remaining, he finds himself in a commanding position – and has his eyes firmly gazed on the main prize. “I’ve always wanted for there to be an Asian Mid-Amateur Championship … and to win that. That’s what I’m here for,” said Toyoshima, who reached a high of 385th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and whose curriculum vitae includes making the cut in both the Japan Open in 2023 and last year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.

Heading into Wednesday’s second round here, Toyoshima holds a four-stroke lead in the overall standings from compatriot Kazuma Inaba, the reigning Japan Mid-Amateur champion, and Indonesian Alit Jiwandara.

With preferred lies permitted on the fairways, Indonesia’s Syahri Ramadhan and Indian Navtez Singh were the only other players in the 74-strong starting line-up to better par on the Graham Marsh-designed layout, both returning 71s.

In addition to leading the way overall, Toyoshima is seven shots in front of Rudy Romangsuriat of Indonesia, his closest challenger in Group D, for players aged 47 and above.

Other age-group leaders are Muhammad Luthfi Haiban (Group A, 25-29 years old); Jiwandana and Inaba (Group B, 30-37 years old) and Ramadhan and Singh (Group C, 38-46 years old).

Given the historic nature of the day, it was fitting that the auspicious occasion should be garnished by a hole-in-one.

Malaysian Amir Luqman Rohadi wrote his name into the APGC record books when his seven-iron from 180 yards at the par-three third hole disappeared below ground. It was the first ‘ace’ of his golfing career.

“The ball landed on the fringe. I didn’t see it go in the hole … but the players in front of us were cheering,” said the Kota Permai Golf & Country Club member.

“During the practice round I hit a six-iron at the third. But with some wind (behind) I went for a seven-iron with a full swing,” he added. It was a decision that turned out perfectly for Rohadi, who signed for a 75 that has him in a share of 20th place.

Leading Overall Standings 

66 – Yutaka Toyoshima (Japan)
70 – Kazuma Inaba (Japan); Alit Jiwandara (Indonesia)
71 – Syahri Ramadhan (Indonesia); Navtez Singh (India)
72 – Varoon Parmar (India); James Gill (Hong Kong); Farisyi (Indonesia)
73 – Muhammad Luthfi Haiban (Indonesia); Zachary Kristian Suryahimsa (Indonesia); Kyaw Ko Ko Chit (Myanmar); Wahyu Budi Tamtama (Indonesia); Ranjit Singh (India); Subur Christiano (Indonesia); Rudy Romangsuriat (Indonesia)

Group A
(ages 25-29)

73 – Muhammad Luthfi Haiban (Indonesia); Zachary Kristian Suryahimsa (Indonesia)
74 – Imran Marzuqi Iszhar (Malaysia)
75 – Amir Luqman Rohadi (Malaysia); Muhammad Ridhwan (Indonesia)

Group B
(ages 30-37)

70 – Kazuma Inaba (Japan); Alit Jiwandara (Indonesia)
73 – Kyaw Ko Ko Chit (Myanmar)
74 – Andy Sjaichudin (Indonesia)
76 – Adhie Prakoso Murjono (Indonesia); Jeffrey Chow (Hong Kong)

Group C
(ages 38-46)

71 – Syahri Ramadhan (Indonesia); Navtez Singh (India)
72 – Varoon Parmar (India); James Gill (Hong Kong); Farisyi (Indonesia)

Group D
(ages 47 and above)

66 – Yutaka Toyoshima (Japan)
73 – Rudy Romangsuriat (Indonesia)
74 – Sulaiman Limpo (Indonesia)
75 – Ashish Kapoor (India); Syren Johnstone (Hong Kong)