Mao Ishizaki and Naoyuki Kataoka are same grade at Tohoku Fukushi University, and they have been best buddies as well as great rivals. They saw each other's name up on the leader board and their rivalry fired up.

Naoyuki finished at 4 under.
"I lost against Mao with 1 shot. I will definitely catch up with him tomorrow."
On the other hand, Mao who finished with 5 under at 7T said, "I told myself that I must beat Naoyuki at least by 1 shot today".

At the Japan Players Championship by Sato Shokuhin, where Naoyuki proudly won his first Tour victory, Mao who stood at 76th of the QT ranking was offered with eligibility to enter that tournament, but his injured wrist avoided him to make that challenge.

Mao watched the tournament at his home in Nagasaki Prefecture.
"I knew that Naoyuki had the potential to win. His short games are really good, but when I saw him struggling on the 17th, after he missed the tee shot and had trouble with the short game, it really got me worried. I felt as if I were playing with him. I really wanted him to win, and glad that he did. So, I must work harder and catch up with him."

Mao received sponsor invitation to this tournament, but Naoyuki also wasn't able to be in this field as he finished at 50th on QT rankings, but he earned it with the victory at JPC.
"The victory at JPC changed everything. I am very thankful", said Naoyuki.

"I want to fight hard, and I wish Mao and I could be in the final group on the Final Round together."
2 top players will receive the ticket to The Open, and Mao and Naoyuki buddies are pushing each other to achieve that dream together.