Miyu Yamashita chases a sixth worldwide win after sharing lead in Japan.

OMITAMA, Japan — Miyu Yamashita, who won the LPGA's Maybank Championship in Malaysia over the weekend, was among three players atop the leaderboard after Thursday's first round of the Toto Japan Classic.

Yamashita and fellow Japanese players Aki Iwai and Sayaka Takahashi each shot 6-under-par 66s for a one-stroke lead.

A group of three players sits one shot back: Minami Hiruta, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Fuka Suga, all at 67.

Nine players are two shots off the lead after rounds of 68, including defending champion Nasa Hataoka.

The Toto Japan Classic is the final tournament of the LPGA's late-season Asian swing.

The event is being held at the Taiheiyo Club, a 6,598-yard layout in Omitama, Japan.

Yamashita is coming off a victory at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia just days ago.

A win this week would give her four LPGA titles in 2026.

It would also mark her sixth worldwide win in 2026, counting her victories on other tours.

Iwai, who shares the lead, is also in strong form.

She posted a T-2 finish in late September at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

Hataoka enters as the defending champion at this event.

Jeeno Thitikul is the betting favorite, looking for her fifth win of the season.

Yamashita's hot streak has been one of the biggest storylines on the LPGA Tour this fall.

She has shown consistency across different courses and conditions, from Malaysia to Japan.

The Asian swing has tested players with travel, time zones and varied grass types.

Yamashita has handled it as well as anyone in the field.

The first round at Taiheiyo Club saw scoring conditions that rewarded aggressive play.

Six-under was the number to beat, and three players matched it.

The course measures 6,598 yards, a moderate length by LPGA standards.

Accuracy off the tee and precise iron play are critical on this layout.

Yamashita's game has been sharp in both categories during her recent run.

The Toto Japan Classic has a strong history of producing tight leaderboards.

This year's edition is no exception, with 15 players within three shots of the lead.

Yamashita will need to maintain her form through three more rounds.

The pressure of going back-to-back — and chasing a fourth LPGA win — will only increase.

But she has shown she can handle pressure.

Her win in Malaysia came after a final-round battle.

Now she has a chance to complete the Asian swing sweep.

A victory here would also strengthen her case for LPGA Player of the Year honors.