The disastrous heavy rain flooding many parts of northern Kyushu area, and this rain also caused the Wednesday Pro-Am to be cancelled due to the bad course conditions. The awarding ceremony was scheduled after the play, but it was changed to encouragement rally. Players and the invited amateur players gathered quietly at the club house to spend some time together.

Ryo Ishikawa who has won last week at SEGASammy and has done 2 tournaments in a row, skipped the Pro-Am to participate on his mother-in-law's funeral, but he will return to the tournament from Thursday.

Since Players' Chairman was absent at the encouragement rally, Yuta Ikeda the Vise Chairman stood up to replace Ryo.
"I believe the areas of the participating amateur guest's company might be under the heavy rain damage. We should really think deeply of what we the players can do for those who are suffering from this disaster. When Ryo comes back, we will all talk about what we could offer. There is nothing we could do about the weather, but at these tough moments, athletes should do what they do best, play well."

This week's RIZAP KBC Augusta Golf Tournament is one of the tournaments that Yuta loves. His admiring hero, Jumbo Ozaki has won here 4 times including the 3 in a row from 1997. Yuta himself has won here 3 times 2009, 2015 and 2017. Especially at 2009, it was his second carrier win, he feels attached to this tournament.
Many used to think Keya GC equaled Jumbo, but nowadays, Keya means Yuta Ikeda.
"I hope that fans will keep on thinking that Keya is my course. In order to do that, I must continue to win here."

Ryo Ishikawa faces 3 tournament victory-in-a-row this week, and if he does it he will become the 4th player to accomplish and will join the prestigious member like Isao Aoki, Jumbo Ozaki, and Shingo Katayama,

"I will do my best to win and try to give back to my favorite course Keya GC and Fukuoka Prefecture" says, Yuta Ikeda.
Yuta's win will surely encourage the local people who are suffering from the rain disaster.