Tournament article
Asia Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf 2019
Jinichiro Kouzuma promises to give back to Kanemura family for their support
In his front nine at Par 5 14th, he got his second shot from 220 yards to the 4 meters over the pin with 4 Iron and goes on to get an eagle. Then on the next 15th, which was recorded as the toughest hole with no birdies on Round 1, he shot his second shot from 210 with 5 Iron which rolled its way so close to the pin and got himself a tap in birdie.
He lost his seed last season and had to go through the Final QT to achieve the chance for this year. He finished 8th on the Final QT, but since this Asian Pacific Diamond Cup is co-hosted by Japan and Asian Tours, the number of the Japan Tour players were limited to half of the field and Jinichiro couldn't get into the field on his own. But former Professional Baseball player and now a baseball analyst Yoshiaki Kanemura had pushed Jinichiro for sponsor invitee slot.
And this week Yoshiaki's son, Akinori caddis for Jinichiro. Akinori Kanemura is from the same high school as Ryo Ishikawa, and he has worked for Golf Magazine editing, but after doing a caddy for an event on that magazine project, he felt that he was meant to be. Akinori has turned into a professional caddy and, this season he is on Jinichiro's bag.
Akinori says, "I wasn't for baseball like my father", but his well-built body and positive personality is just like his father.
This week, Jinichiro is under full support from the Kanemura family, and he knows the best way to give back in to win. He used to be a draw hitter, but he changed to fade during the off season because he made so many mistakes when the pin was on the right side of the green. At Sobu CC where there are many dog leg right holes, his fade shots worked.
"I shot most of my tee shot with fades"
His effort and the trustworthy caddy's support made him jump up from 65th position all the way up to tie at 6th, in wishful close range just 3 shots behind the leader.