LPGA moves to Japan for Mizuno Open
BY Bruce Young | Japan Ladies Tour | 2009 Mizuno Classic | Preview | 04 Nov 2009
The LPGA Tour is in Japan this week where they will join forces with the Japan Ladies Golf Tour for the Mizuno Open in Mie Prefecture around 300 kilometres to the south and west of Tokyo.
The tournament is being played at the Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club’s 6,506-yard course where it has been played for the past three years. Ji Yai Shin is the defending champion having beaten Mayu Hattori to win last year while in 2007 it was a Japan LPGA Tour player, Momoko Ueda who defeated Reilley Rankin and Maria Hjorth.
Played over 54 holes the event carries prizemoney of US$1.4 million and, for the Japan LPGA Tour players not otherwise qualified, a chance to play on the LPGA Tour in the US. Given the current strength of the Japan LPGA Tour it might be that there is as much if not more incentive for an LPGA Tour player earning the right to play that Tour.
Shin is back to defend and she will be challenged by last week’s winner in Korea Na Yeon Choi, Lorena Ochoa, Ai Miyazato, Maria Hjorth and a total field of 78 players. The leading players in Japan are expected to give as good as they get this week with the likes of Shinobu Moromizato, Sakura Yokomine, Mi Jeong Jang and others likely chances.
2006 winner, Karrie Webb, Lindsey Wright, Katherine Hull and recent JLPGA Tour winning Australians Tamie Durdin and Nikki Campbell are the Australians in the field.
