The Japan Open, which decides the number one golfer in Japan, has started in Hyogo Prefecture, and Kazuki Higa, who is currently ranked number one in the prize money ranking, started in provisional fifth place with a score of 2 under par.
Amateur college student Taika Semikawa is the provisional sole leader at 6 under par.
The "Japan Open" of golf is one of the domestic major tournaments and will be held at the Sanko Golf Club Japan Course in Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture for four days from the 20th.
Higa, who is currently ranked number one in the prize money ranking in Japan, has won the Masters Tournament, one of the major overseas tournaments, and Keita Nakajima, a university student who turned professional last month after being ranked number one in the world amateur rankings. I went around the first round in the same group as Adam Scott of Australia.
Higa started with a birdie on the 1st par 4, then birdied on the 3rd par 3 and 5th par 4, going 3 under par in the first half.
In the second half, both players hit consecutive bogeys at the par 4 15th and 16th holes, and Higa scored 2 under par with 4 birdies and 2 bogeys on that day. It was a 1st place start.
On the other hand, Nakajima struggled in the first half, making a double bogey on the 2nd par 5, but he showed tenacity in the second half, taking 3 birdies. With Adam Scott and others, it is provisionally ranked 32nd.
Semikawa, a college student who won the amateur championship at last month's domestic tour tournament, stands at the temporary top with 7 birdies and 1 bogey at 6 under par.
Kazuki Higa: “I was able to persevere all day long”
After finishing the first round, Kazuki Higa looked back, saying, "I wasn't able to get a birdie on the difficult hole, but I think I was able to persevere and persevere all day."
Looking ahead to the second round, "I have a stronger desire to win this year than ever before. Tomorrow's round will be cold and the battle will be tough at the in-start, but I will try to get a birdie ahead from the start. I want to do my best," he said.
Keita Nakajima "I will fight tenaciously without rushing"
After finishing the first round, NAKAJIMA Keita looked back, saying, ``Since this is a major tournament, I tried to stay calm and persevere no matter how many bogeys I made.
Looking ahead to the second round, he said, "I believe that players who persevere through the major tournaments will win. I'm still in a position to aim for higher rankings, so I want to keep fighting without rushing. Tomorrow's 4 holes from the start will be difficult. However, I want to do my best so that I can get a birdie when I have a chance while sticking with par."