Tokyo, Japan: Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) representatives Rianne Malixi and Avani Prashanth, two of the region’s most promising golfing prospects, signalled their title intent on the opening day of The Royal Junior.
One of the foremost tournaments for high school students in Japan, the third edition of the 54-hole event at The Royal Golf Club features 37 players from APGC member countries.
Among the 18 girls flying the flag for the APGC are Malixi of the Philippines and Indian Prashanth, 33rd and 50th respectively in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
Looking to improve on her third-place finish here last year, Malixi set the early pace with an even-par 72 over the testing layout that measures 7,003 yards for the girls.
Two strokes back in joint second is Prashanth and Japan’s Tsukiha Nakashima with New Zealand’s Eunseo Choi and Thai Pimpisa Rubrong in a share of fourth place on 75.
Among the boys, opening-day honours went to Japan’s Takahide Kiyomoto who toured the layout that is stretched to 8,007 yards in even-par 72.
In joint second place on 73 Japan’s Reo Maruo and Korean Park Gun-woong.
So challenging was the course that only 21 of the 45 boys in the starting line-up bettered 80. Of the girls, 22 signed for scores in the 70s.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Boys
72 – Takahide Kiyomoto (Japan)
73 – Reo Maruo (Japan); Park Gun-woong (Korea)
74 – Kota Takeda (Japan)
75 – Jayawardana Dornan (Indonesia); Shinichi Suzuki (Philippines); Kaito Hashizume (Japan)
76 – Sakutoshi Yamazaki (Japan)
77 – Gu Liangliang (China)
78 – Kengo Hayashi (Japan); Toyo Azuma (Japan); Thanawin Lee (Thailand); Komei Onishi (Japan); Cooper Moore (New Zealand); Taishi Takayama (Japan); Lim Tae-young (Korea); Manato Yukizane (Japan)
Girls
72 – Rianne Malixi (Philippines)
74 – Avani Prashanth (India); Tsukiha Nakashima (Japan)
75 – Goto Ai (Japan); Eunseo Choi (New Zealand); Pimpisa Rubrong (Thailand)
76 – Saito Aisa (Japan); Ito Seara (Japan); Gion Miina (Japan); Yoshizaki Mana (Japan)
