Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Kazuki Higa [main picture] from Japan and Wang Wei-hsuan from Chinese-Taipei took the first-round lead today at the Asian Games in Japan – on a day when Asian Tour members exceled.

They shot five-under-par 65s on the East Course at Kasugai Country Club, in the 20^th edition of the quadrennial event, which is being held mainly in Aichi Prefecture and its capital city, Nagoya.

Korean Mun Doyeob and China’s Sampson Zheng, also both Asian Tour members, finished the day in a tie for third following 66s. They were joined by India’s Saptak Talwar and Keita Nakajima from Japan.

Tom Kim from Korea, the 2020-2022 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, carded a 67 and is next best placed with Ding Wenyi from China.

Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, who is attempting to win back-to-back gold medals in the individual category having been successful at the 2022 games in China, fired a 69 to stay in the hunt.

Both Higa and Wang have been in form on the Asian Tour recently, with Higa coming close to successfully defending his Yeangder TPC title two weeks ago in Chinese-Taipei. He finished runner-up while Wang tied for fourth.

Chinese-Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao, winner of last week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters, shot a 72 and will need to find some form quickly if he is to come close to matching the bronze medal he won in 2022.

With the two best scores from each team counting, Japan lead the team competition from Korea and China who are tied for second. Taishi Moto is the third member of the Japanese side with Higa and Nakajima.

Korea are the defending champions in the team competition, although they feature a completely different line up this year with Kim Seonghyeon playing alongside Tom Kim and Mun.

A total of 20 Asian Tour members are competing in the Asian Games out of a starting field of 66 players.

Live scores scores and tee times here.