The Asian Tour's '40-something' brigade showed the way after day one of the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship, with Lin Keng-chi and Frankie Minoza enjoying strong opening performances.

Lin notched four birdies in an opening three-under 67 to share second after 18 holes, while Minoza recorded a one-under 69 to lie in equal 10th at the event considered the 'players championship' in Japan.

With only 17 players in red figures after round one on a relatively benign day at Shishido Hills, Naoya Takemoto leads the way after his seven-under 63.

Japan's Toru Taniguchi and Korea's Lee Dong-hwan are in second, four shots back - alongside Lin - after a humid day in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Among the rest of the Asian Tour contingent there were mixed fortunes. Zhang Lian-wei, returning to the Japan Tour for the first time in two years as a sponsors' invitation from UBS, recorded a fine two-under 68, while Prayad Marksaeng shot 70 and SK Ho returned 71.

© 2007 AFP/sid