JAPAN PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP by Sato Syokuhin  back for third edition

The JGTO season heads to Tochigi Prefecture this week with the JAPAN PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP by Sato Syokuhin taking centre stage as the 10th stop on the Tour.

Renowned for being a tournament organized "by the players, for the players," the ¥50,000,000 event, hosted by the Japan Golf Tour Players' Committee (JGTPC), is celebrating its third edition starting tomorrow at Nishinasuno Country Club.

This tournament holds a special place in the hearts of many JGTO members as it was first held in 2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The idea was initiated by the JGTPC with the support of Sato Syokuhin, a renowned food company, to provide its members with a playing opportunity during the challenging period of the pandemic when numerous Tour events were postponed or cancelled.

Even after the pandemic subsided, Sato Syokuhin continued to pledge their support, ensuring the continuity of the event.

The tournament now aims to promote the development of the golf industry and enhance the value of the Tour by incorporating new initiatives and player-driven ideas, including gallery services.

The JGTPC, along with the venue host and JGTO tournament office, are working together as one to make this event a success.

A total of 156 players have signed up for this week's race with Yuki Inamori returning as the defending champion.

Last year, Inamori set Nashinasuno Country Club on fire with a blistering four-day total of 23-under-par, eclipsing the previous winning total by eight shots set by Naoyuki Kataoka, who's also in the field this week.

The two tournament winners can expect a stiff challenge from the likes of man-of-the-moment Keita Nakajima, Taiga Semikawa, Shugo Imahira, Hiroshi Iwata, Kensei Hirata and Philippines' Juvic Pagunsan, who will all be vying for their second win of the season.

The spotlight will certainly be on Nakajima once again after he narrowly lost the Hana Bank Invitational crown by just one shot to South Korea's Yang Ji Ho last Sunday.

It denied him a career's first back-to-back victories following his ASO Iizuka Challenge Golf Tournament triumph. The outcome also marked Nakajima's third runner-up finish in the last four starts.

Inamori will fancy his chances after quietly building the right momentum ahead of his title defence this week.

He claimed four top-10s in his last five appearances, highlighted by a tied second at the BMW JGT Championship Mori Building Cup won by Takumi Kanaya.

 "These young players nowadays (referring to Nakajima and Kanaya) are truly amazing. But it's about time for me to win too!"

Apart from the ¥10,000,000 top prize, Inamori also has his sights set firmly on the additional incentive by the Sato Syokuhin which comes in the form of 4,000 packs of Sato's Rice.

Last year, he generously shared the gifts with his beloved wife, as well as relatives and acquaintances, greatly delighting them.

He also gave it away to charity. "This year, I definitely want to try to get the prize again," he vowed.