10th year professional Taichi Nabetani played with 6 birdies and 1 bogey to score 66. Totaled to 11 under and joined the 2T group. He was offered the sponsorship by ISPS in May, the newest host tournament professional this week, and he will play along side with the eldest hosting professional Hideto Tanihara in final groupings tomorrow.

Taichi made birdie on his starting hole with getting his 2nd shot with 6I to 1-meter for easy one. He also made a great shot on 4th with 5I from 200 yards to 40cm to the pin.

Taichi first started to learn golf at 8 years old from his father who was a teaching professional.
"My father only taught me short games and golf mentality. As for swings, I was on my own."

He decided to make his swing from the scratch in February last year, learning under teaching professional Kenji Horio.
"It was 180 degrees different from what I have been doing. At first, I couldn't hit at all. I told myself I will be re-learning how to play golf."
Thanks to this commitment, Taichi was able to finish 2T in ISPS HANDA Be a Hero Challenge Tournament on AbemaTV Tour. Now his Money Rankings on the cub-tour is 4th, and he has secured the exemption for first half of the 2022 season.

Next month he plans to caddy for JLPGA professional at Itoen Ladies tournament.
"JLPGA Tour is so popular, and I wanted to see how it is like. There are so many great JLPGA players, so I wish I could learn something from them too."

But this week, he needs to do the best to give back his appreciation to his sponsor and tournament host ISPS. Taichi got married last year and he became dad this January as his son was born.
"ISPS has been supporting me in many ways and I really want to show my appreciation by making good results. Since there are 5 shots deficit and winning might be impossible, but I want to do my best."