Japan's Katayama shines at Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open

TOKYO: Japanese star Shingo Katayama fired a flawless eight-under-par 63 to take a two-shot lead over Thailand's Pariya Junhasavasdikul in the opening round of the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open on Thursday.

Katayama got off to a flying start when he birdied the opening three holes before adding five other birdies at the challenging Ibaraki Country Club.

Junhasavasdikul carded three birdies and one eagle in his first six holes before adding two more birdies against one bogey for a 65.

Japan's Masahiro Kawamura, Song Young-han of South Korea and Rory Hie of Indonesia followed with a 69 at the 150 million yen ($1.5 million) event.

Katayama has enjoyed much success earlier in his career which includes winning 26 titles on the Japan Golf Tour but not since 2008 due to injuries.

Top scores:
63 - Shingo Katayama (JPN)
65 - Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA)
69 - Masahiro Kawamura (JPN), Rory Hie (INA), Song Young-han (KOR).
70 - Kim Sung-yoon (KOR), Prayad Marksaeng (THA), Koumei Oda (JPN),
Yoshinori Fujimoto (JPN), Michio Matsumura (JPN), Koki Furuta (JPN, amateur), Lee Kyoung-hoon (KOR), Taichi Teshima (JPN).
(AFP)