Hwang Yu-min ties for 7th in opening round of Toto Japan Classic

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

Hwang posted a bogey-free 4-under-par 68 with four birdies in the first round Thursday at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course (par 72) in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

She sits two strokes behind the trio of Yamashita Miyu, Iwai Aki and Takahashi Sayaka, all of Japan, who share the lead at 6-under-par 66. Defending champion Hataoka Nasa of Japan is also tied for seventh alongside Hwang.

Play began an hour behind schedule due to rain. Hwang, who claimed her first LPGA Tour victory at last year's Lotte Championship in October, hit 88.8 percent of greens in regulation and needed 30 putts.

She made her first birdie on the par-4 fourth hole and turned at 1 under par. On the back nine, she birdied the 12th and 13th holes consecutively, then added another on the par-3 16th to complete a bogey-free round.

Jeon In-ji carded four birdies against one bogey for a 3-under-par 69, sharing 16th place with Kang Min-ji, who made three birdies. Lee Mi-hyang and Joo Su-bin are tied for 26th at 2-under-par 70. Kim Hyo-joo, ranked sixth in the world, managed just one birdie for a 1-under-par 71, starting the tournament tied for 40th.

Ko Jin-young and Lee Min-young are tied for 47th after even-par 72s. Shin Ji-ae, a 30-time winner on the JLPGA Tour, shot a 2-over-par 74 to sit tied for 67th.