Shaun Norris made seven birdies and two bogeys on Thursday to open his campaign in the first round of the Japan Players Championship in Tochigi, Japan.

His five-under-par 67 put him in a share of fifth place, two shots off the lead held by Tadahiro Takayama, Hyun-Woo Ryu and Taihei Sato. They were one shot ahead of Taichi Teshima, and Norris shared fifth with Yosuke Asaji and Han Lee.

Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent was one-under after the first round, and Jbe’ Kruger carded a two-over 74.

Norris opened fast with four consecutive birdies on the first four holes, and then he picked up another shot with a birdie on the ninth, as he turned in five-under 31. Things were a little quieter on his homeward nine, as he picked up a birdie on the 12^th, but then dropped on the 14^th and 15^th. He got the birdie train back on the rails with one on the 16^th.

Amongst the leaders, Takayama alone was bogey-free.

Vincent made three birdies and two bogeys, while Kruger had two birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey.