'AIEA — Japan pro Makoto Endo, playing with borrowed clubs, holds the lead halfway through the opening round of the Hawai'I Pearl Open after shooting an 8-under-par 64 in nearly windless conditions this morning.

With half the 174-men, two-women field just starting the first round, Endo is a shot ahead of John Ellis and two up on Japan pros Toshinori Muto and Yuta Ikeda. Ellis tied for fourth here last year and went on to win three tournaments and the Order of Merit on the Canadian Tour.

Tadd Fujikawa, the 2007 Pearl champ, shares fifth with Lorens Chan and Japan pro Norihiko Furusho at 67.

Fujikawa is a senior at Moanalua High School and Chan an 'Iolani freshman. Both played the Sony Open in Hawai'I last month.

Fujikawa will play in two PGA Tour events the next five weeks. It was announced today that he accepted sponsor's exemptions for the Honda Classic and Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular.

Fujikawa played the Honda Classic last year in Florida, missing the cut with rounds of 78 and 76. It will be March 5 to 8 at the PGA National Champion Courser. The Puerto Rican tournament is March 12 to 15 at Trump International Golf Club in Rio Grande.

"Tadd is a not only a great young player, he is a great example to the youth of Puerto Rico for whom the tournament is dedicated to," said Sidney Wolf, chairman of the Puerto Rico Open, in a press release. "Tadd has overcome a great deal to get where he is today. He plays with a great deal of enthusiasm and we look forward to him playing in Puerto Rico."

Fujikawa and Tournament Ambassador Juan "Chi Chi" Rodriguez, who lives part-time in Hawai'I, will be giving the Tuesday Junior Clinic tournament week.