Tanihara to defend title at JAPAN PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP by Sato Syokuhin, eyes 20-win milestone

Hideto Tanihara, one of the JGTO's most decorated players, is returning to defend his title at the JAPAN PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP by Sato Syokuhin in Tochigi this week, resuming his bid to reach a 20-title milestone.

Last year, the 45-year-old claimed his 18th career win at Nashinasuno Country Club by defeating Taiga Nagano in a playoff. 

The duo had finished regulation play tied at a blistering 24-under-par, one shot better than the 2022 winner, Yuki Inamori.

Tanihara proved he still has plenty left in the tank, going on to clinch victory at the ANA Open for his second title of the season and 19th overall.

He's now just one win away from joining the exclusive 20-win and above club, a feat achieved by only 11 players to date.

While Tanihara has not hit top gear yet this season, he did show his pedigree by taking the solo lead in the opening round of The Crowns, ultimately finishing tied for 12th in that tournament.

However, Tanihara can expect stiff competition from the big guns such as Taiga Semikawa, Ryo Ishikawa, Aguri Iwasaki, Kensei Hirata, and Inamori, all of whom are eager to impress and still seeking their first victory of the season.

Ishikawa, especially, will be extra motivated as he enters this week's action on the back of his runner-up finish to Hiroshi Iwata at the BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup two weeks ago. 
Iwata is also in the field this week with his sights firmly set on becoming the first multiple winner of the season.

The spotlight will certainly also be on the 22-year-old Yuta Sugiura, who has been performing consistently with five top-10 finishes in eight starts, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Kansai Open.

Apart from the ¥10,000,000 top prize, the victory will come with an additional incentive from Sato Syokuhin in the form of 4,000 packs of Sato's Rice.

The ¥50,000,000 tournament, organised by the Japan Golf Tour Players' Committee (JGTPC), celebrates its fourth consecutive edition this year.

This event is particularly cherished by members of the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) because it was inaugurated in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The tournament was the brainchild of the JGTPC, backed by Sato Syokuhin, a well-known food company, aiming to offer players a competitive outlet when many tour events were either postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic. 

Despite the pandemic's eventual easing, Sato Syokuhin has maintained its commitment to the event, guaranteeing its ongoing presence in the golfing calendar.

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