Ryosuke Hinoshita of Japan. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Past, present and future stars of Asian golf will brush shoulders when the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf makes a nostalgic return to the Oarai Golf Club this week.
Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO), not only does the ¥100 million event feature the leading players from both circuits, but also 20 of the region’s outstanding amateur prospects.
Further kudos is added by the fact that the winner will be rewarded with an exemption into July’s 150th Open Championship at St Andrews.
“Given its rich history, the Diamond Cup is truly unique,” said Andy Yamanaka, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Japan Golf Association (JGA), which hosts the event in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), Kansai TV and Mitsubishi Corporation.
Yamanaka added: “Over the years, it’s been the intention for the Diamond Cup to contribute to society through a series of charity activities, a commitment to preserve our natural environment as well as focusing on making a regional contribution through the development of junior and amateur golfers.
“The Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf has a remarkable past and we are committed to ensuring it has a glittering future.”
Inaugurated as the Dunlop Tournament in 1969, it has since then been variously called Mitsubishi Galant Tournament, Mitsubishi Motors Tournament, Diamond Cup Tournament, Mitsubishi Diamond Cup Golf, Diamond Cup Golf and, from 2014, the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf.
Past champions include dozens of legendary figures including Japanese all-time greats Masashi ‘Jumbo’ Ozaki, Tsuneyuki ‘Tommy’ Nakajima and Isao Aoki, and Major champions Peter Thomson and Todd Hamilton, a former Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.
Other Asian Tour stalwarts whose names are inscribed on the winner’s trophy are Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang (2016), Thai Prayad Marksaeng (2008), American Brandt Jobe (1995), the Chinese Taipei duo of TC Chen (1993) and Lu Hsi-chuen (1981) and Filipino Ben Arda (1973).
While this will be the 11th occasion that the Diamond Cup has been held at Oarai Golf Club, it’s the first occasion since 2013 when Hideki Matsuyama claimed the title, a matter of months after turning professional.
A seaside links course on the shores of the Kashima Sea, Oarai Golf Club was designed by Seiichi Inoue in 1953. It’s a challenging and strategic course, taking advantage of the natural landscape.
A top-class Japanese field for the 2022 event includes defending champion Rikuya Hoshino, Yuka Inamori, winner of The Crowns on the JGTO a fortnight ago, and Keita Nakajima, reigning Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner, number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and already with a JGTO victory under his belt.
Nakajima, who captured the award for low amateur at last year’s Diamond Cup, won the 2021 Panasonic Open on the JGTO.
Victorious at Sagamihara Golf Club’s East Course last year, Hoshino said: “I am glad that the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf is being held at such a prestigious course in my home province this year.
“I look forward to playing in front of many local spectators, with a better situation of Covid-19. As defending champion, I am aiming to win this championship two years in a row, in front of many golf fans.”
Steeped in history, the Diamond Cup is one of the JGA’s four National Championships, alongside the Japan Open, Japan Women’s Open and Japan Senior Open.
Due to travel restrictions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, last year’s event proceeded without overseas amateurs and purely as a part of the JGTO.
Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO, said: “We’re delighted to have this historic championship back on our schedule in 2022 and look forward to remaining a part of it for many years to come. The event is very much part of the heritage of Asian Tour and we are proud to be part of it. The APGC and JGA do a great job nurturing the next generation of professional golfers and we are proud to be part of their transition.”
The last time the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup was part of the Asian Tour in 2019, victory went to Japan’s Yosuke Asaji. It was his first win as a professional.
Micah Lauren Shin of the United States shared second place with Japanese Ren Yonezawa, then an amateur but who lines up this week as a professional.
