Epic battle lies ahead at Hana Bank Invitational

A thrilling battle is on the cards as the cream of the crop from the JGTO and KPGA face off in the Hana Bank Invitational, which is jointly sanctioned by two renowned Tours for the first time, starting tomorrow.

The ₩1 billion (approx. ¥110 million) showpiece is celebrating its fifth edition (since Hana Bank came on board as the title sponsor) by bringing the contest to Japan.

A total of 144 players, including 60 JGTO members, will tee it up at the Chiba Isumi Golf Club in Chiba Prefecture with their sights set firmly on the ₩200 million (approx. ¥22 million) winner's cheque and a two-year exemption on both Tours.

Newly-minted ASO Iizuka Challenged Golf Tournament champion Keita Nakajima and Kansai Open winner Taiga Semikawa will be spearheading the JGTO's charge, along with reigning JGTO Money Ranking champion Kazuki Higa, as they seek to claim the bragging rights against their Korean counterparts.

The KPGA contingent, led by the tournament defending champion Lee Jun-seok and their current leading three players on the Genesis Point Ranking - Lee Jae-kyung, Kim Dong-min and Lee Jung-hwan, will be out to stamp their mark on Japanese soil.

Fresh off his second JGTO victory, but first as a professional, Nakajima said he intends to keep his fine run of form going and looks forward to renewing his rivalry with some of the Korean competitors whom he took on during his amateur days.

"I am honoured to be invited to play in this tournament. There are some Korean players that I was competing against when I was an amateur in the national team, so I am looking forward to playing with them," said Nakajima.

"Last week I was thrilled to win because I had finished second place in the previous two tournaments. But I have a different mindset now, and I want to keep going with my current golf performance.

"I am a bit tired, but I have had a week to focus on the back nine of Sunday. I will do my best to finish high up on the leaderboard."

At just 22, Nakajima is pleased to have established himself as among the JGTO elites alongside Semikawa, who's of the same age.

"Taiga and I went to different universities, but we were on the national team together. I am happy to play with an ex-teammate. By showcasing our best performance, Japanese golf is blooming. I am motivated by his presence. I want to pep up Japanese golf with other young players," vowed Nakajima.

A pumped-up Semikawa is relishing a rare opportunity of going up against the formidable KPGA counterparts and has promised to do his utmost best to uphold JGTO pride this week.

"I am very motivated because I can compete with the JGTO members and the Korean tour members in this beautiful tournament. I don’t have many chances to play with many Korean players, and I think I will be able to test my skills among them. I will do my best to win!" said Semikawa, who sits fourth in the JGTO Money Rankings.

Despite having two JGTO titles already to his name, including winning the Japan Open as an amateur last year, Semikawa regards Nakajima as still head and shoulder above him.

"Last year was a breakthrough for me, but Keita has been an icon since I was in school. Keita had much attention even when he was in college competing in the tour. He is not a rival, instead, I have always been chasing him," he explained.

The Hana Bank Invitational is a continuation of the Korea-China KEB Invitational, which was held six times (twice a year, one each in Korea and China) from 2008 to 2010.

After a lapse of seven years, it was eventually revived in 2018 thanks to Hana Bank's backing, with players from Japan and China invited to compete.

Although the tournament brought together players from as many as nine countries a year, it was staged only in Korea.

The JGTO and KPGA are also the sanctioning partners of the Shinhan Donghae Open in September- a tournament that features the Asian Tour as the other sanctioning partner too.