ANA Open is celebrating its 47th year, and finally, a player from local Hokkaido Prefecture might become the winner for the first time on tournament history. 4th year professional Yuki Uetake is from Makubetsucho Hokkaido.

He was on a junior soccer team during his elementary school days. 1 grade elder in him team was the Gold Medalist speed skater Miho Takagi. He won Hokkaido Junior and Hokkaido High School Championship during his high school days. During his college years, he won the National Championship as a team and individual representing Tohoku Fukushi University in 2017. On that same year, he won the Hokkaido Amateur Championship.

Yuta is only 163cm tall. He was really motivated to see his same college grade rival Kazuki Higa, who is only 158cm win his 2nd victory in July. This week he is back home with his newly wed wife, since it is only 20 minutes' drive to the course. Thanks to the power of love and home-made meal, he has been playing bogey free for the past 2 rounds.

He did face trouble on 9th, as he pushed his shot into the woods, but made a great par save holing the 5-meter putt.
"I didn't think if I hadn't made it. If I did miss the cup, it would have gone long pass the hole."

Yuki played his 3R with 4 birdies to score 68, totaled to 12 under, 3 strokes behind the leader. ANA Open has started in 1973 and had 2 cancellations. This year the tournament welcomes its 47th year, but there haven't been any winner from local Hokkaido Prefecture.
"I want to be concentrated and get birdie chances. Play aggressive when I can and win."