Yokoo takes early lead in Japan's season finale

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TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's Kaname Yokoo shot a 7-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Nippon Series Cup.

Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, winner of last month's Dunlop Phoenix, and Jeev Milkha Singh of India were a stroke back, along with Japanese golfers Azuma Yano and Katsumasa Miyamoto.

Yokoo, winless on the Japan Tour since winning the Mitsubishi Diamond Cup in 2006, birdied six out of seven holes on the front nine and added four more birdies after the turn before a triple bogey on 18 at the Yomiuri Country Club.

Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa, who last weekend became the youngest golfer on the Japanese tour to reach $1 million in single-year winnings, shot a 3-under 67 and was tied for seventh with four others, including defending champion Brendan Jones of Australia.

The Nippon Series is the last event of the season on the Japan Tour and features this year's tournament winners and players who finished among the top 25 in the money rankings through last week's Casio Open.