The Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup, the memorial tournament for the 50th anniversary of the founding of LPGA, starts on 7th September at Appi Kougen Golf Club (6,640 yard/par71), Hachimantai-City, Iwate. Total purse is ￥200million,and winner’s prize ￥36million. On Wednesday 6th, LPGA players played in a pro-am, and official press conference was held there.50th LPGA Championship Konica Minolta cup
What will be the winners score? That was at the very center of the attention on the day before opening round. “Probably it could be lower than 5 under,” Commissioner Hiromi Kobayashi said. “Fairways aren’t more than about 10 yards wide. Off the tee, players must thread their tee shot to a narrow fairway and from here, they aim at the pin. If the ball lands around the green, they would struggles due to thick rough in approaching. Easy hole isn’t to be found anywhere. Winner would need many kinds of technique, be really a tough and be always careful. I want any players to make all that practice pay off,” she explained the course, adding her own opinion.
On the other hand, this is a challenge presented by Ayako Okamoto, who is the person in charge for the setting of this course. She revealed inside story between Mamiko Higa and her. Higa expects the winner’s score to be around 7 under. “I replied to her, ‘I could win at total 10 under par if I were young like you.’” Okamoto said full of confidence. Okamoto added. “Fairway is perfect and very beautiful now. I was anxious about course condition as it rained much in August, But member of the staff in Appi maintained the course well considering when to care and repair. Thus now it is perfect. It might be so hard for players to play as 4 or 5 kinds of grass is mixing.”
This is the tournament which decides Number-one in Japan, and at the same time, takes a leading part in all the tournaments in Asia. Thus nobody can expect easily what the game like.
“I want people living in Iwate and near here to come and see this tournament and enjoy a feeling of tension at the course. This 50th anniversary tournament is going to live on Internet abroad. There is no doubt everybody will get excited.” Kobayashi is cheering players on with all smiles.
