In the women's golf domestic tour, the first match of this year started in Okinawa Prefecture, and 19-year-old Mao Saigoh increased the score to 8 under and took the lead alone.
The first round of the women's golf domestic tour, which began in Nanjo City, Okinawa Prefecture, was held for the first time in a year and three months with spectators, and at the venue, infection prevention measures such as temperature measurement at the entrance and spacing between stands were taken. Was done.
Mao Saigoh, who was supervised by Masashi Ozaki, also known as Jumbo Ozaki, took the lead on the first day. After taking 2nd to 4th consecutive birdies, his score continued to improve, and the final 18th was also an eagle.
Saigo took the lead alone with 7 birdies, 1 eagle and 1 bogey as 8 under.
Six people, including Mika Miyazato and Hina Arakaki from Okinawa, were in second place, three strokes behind the top.
In addition, Mamiko Higa from Okinawa, who won the previous tournament, is in 13th place with 3 birdies and 1 bogey under 2 under.
Hinako Shibuno, who is aiming to participate in the Tokyo Olympics, made a chance from the first half but suffered from putting and finished 20th with 3 birdies and 2 bogies under 1 under.
Fan "I want to enjoy seeing it live for the first time in a long time"
A 63-year-old man from Hokkaido said, "I'm a fan of women's golf and I'm happy that this day has finally come. I want to enjoy the appearance of the players who can be seen live for the first time in a long time."
A 42-year-old man from Okinawa City said, "I was thinking of coming to see it last year, but it was a pity that the tournament was canceled due to the influence of the new corona. Today, the sound of shots that can only be understood locally. I want to feel the tension. I will support the players from Okinawa, my hometown. "
A 72-year-old woman from Tokyo said, "I'm a fan of Hinako Shibuno, and when I see her smile, I feel better. I'd like to support her while paying attention to infection control measures."
Audience is limited to 1000 people Thorough measures against infection
Due to the influence of the new coronavirus, the domestic tour of women's golf was canceled one after another last year, and all 14 games held were unattended.
The opening round, which started on the 4th, will be held with up to 1000 spectators a day in principle after thorough infection control measures.
The tournament, which was canceled last year, attracts an average of 3,500 spectators a day at the time of the adult event, and the limit of 1,000 people is less than one-third.
As a measure to prevent infection of the new corona, the tournament secretariat stipulates that spectators will not be prepared for the day's ticket, but will purchase it in advance and submit personal information such as contact information, and will enter when visiting the venue. In addition to measuring the temperature at, signing and shaking hands with athletes was prohibited.
In addition, at the venue, the stand seats for watching games were placed at intervals of about 1 meter so that they would not overlap in the front and back, and ropes were stretched in the aisles to allow one-sided traffic to avoid congestion.
The Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association says, "We will continue to consider holding the event with spectators," and hopes to help boost the golf world ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
Winner of the previous tournament Higa "If you cheer, you can do more than power"
Mamiko Higa, a local Okinawan player who won the previous tournament, said, "I was able to play golf with a very good rhythm, and there was a response. When I think about it, I'm glad I was able to go under, "he recalled on the first day.
Regarding being able to play in front of the spectators for the first time in a long time, I really felt that a 100% tournament would be possible only if the spectators entered. With cheering, I can do more than my own strength. I did.
After that, he said with enthusiasm for the rounds from the second day onward, "I have three days left, so if I can play myself, I have a chance. I want to get a lot of birdies."
Shibuno "Exhibiting the true character by having customers"
Regarding being able to play in front of the domestic audience for the first time in a long time, Hinako Shibuno said, "I was very happy to hear the voices such as" Nice Birdie "and" Do your best. "I was able to feel the fun that I didn't feel last year. I thought again that having customers would allow me to demonstrate my true abilities. "
After that, I changed my mind, saying, "I was able to go under par, so I want to do what I should do so as not to drop this score."
In addition, Shibuno, who left the coach who had been instructed by professionals to train independently during this off, showed his willingness to participate in the American tour again in the spot, "in front of me. I want to do what I want to do desperately, and have a year to do what I want to do. "