Sakura Kohagi, Shinna Sakurai… “Dignified Heroines” who will make the second half of women’s golf hot!

Sakura Koiwai (25)

Sakura Koiwai’s swing improved dramatically under the guidance of a new coach she found on YouTube, and her driver distance, which used to be in the low 240s, has increased significantly to over 250 yards this season. On the other hand, his fairway keeping percentage ranks 57th among all players, leaving room for growth.

Performance 5 Power 5 Control 3
Small skills 5 Putting 4

The brilliant battle between the “Tsuyokawa golfers” has reached the end of the season. In the first half of the tournament, Miyu Yamashita (21), last season’s Money Champion, won four times to take the top spot in the ranking. The “Iwai Twins,” Akie Iwai (21) and Chisato Iwai (21), are chasing her.

However, there are still more players to watch out for, and one who is expected to make a breakthrough in the second half of the tournament starting July 20 is Sakura Ogoshi (25), who won the last match of the first half of the tournament. Legend Yuko Moriguchi, who boasts a total of 41 wins on the tour, said, “I have been playing with Hideto Tanihara since last year, and I have been playing with him since then.

Since last year, I have been studying under coach Naoki Yoshida, who has coached Hideto Tanihara and others, and have been working on improving my swing. As a result, her driver distance has exceeded the 250-yard mark. I think he is feeling a positive response.

Yuri Yoshida (23), who won his first major title in the first half of the tournament, cannot be overlooked.

He said, “I need to work on my driver distance, but my control is excellent. I’m also getting better with my irons, and I’m getting better at playing golf without breaking down too much. I get the impression that he has improved even more with this win.

Young players are also making a remarkable comeback.

The “new generation” of players under the age of 20 are emerging one after another with the potential to advance to the top ranks.

The most notable is Shinna Sakurai (19). Her driver distance is over 255 yards, which ranks fourth among all players. Last season, she set a new record on the lower tours with five wins in a year, and she has been able to distribute her pace throughout the year. He should be the eye of the typhoon.

What kind of drama will be created in the second half of the season?

Nana Suganuma (23)

Last offseason, the team conducted training incorporating kickboxing. Muto analyzes, “She has improved her ability to put in instantaneous force. This season, she has been in good form, with four top-10 finishes. She is aiming for her first win on the tour, a long-cherished goal.

Achievements 4 Power 4 Control 4
Small skills 5 Putting 5

Yuri Yoshida (23)

Yoshida had a tough final day at last season’s major, the Japan Women’s Open. That experience was put to good use in her victory this season. Moriguchi said, “Unlike last year, she won the tournament with calm decision-making right to the end. His stability was outstanding,” he said of his growth.

Achievements 5 Power 4 Control 4
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The “New Generation” under the age of 20 making remarkable progress

Kokona Sakurai (19)

She is a “new generation skier” who boasts of her overwhelming driving distance. She is also excellent at small skills, ranking 12th among all players in terms of recovery rate, and both Mr. Moriguchi and Mr. Muto have named her as a key player in the second half of the season.

Performance 4 Power 5 Control 3
Small skills 5 Putting 4

Haruka Kawasaki (20)

Won a major championship last season as a rookie. Will she be able to turn things around after a poor first half of the season?

Achievements 4 Power 4 Control 4
Small skills 4 Putting 4

Shiho Kuwaki (20)

She and the Iwai Twins are professional players at the same time. She is riding high with 4 top 10 finishes in the first half of the season alone.

Achievements 3 Power 3 Control 4
Small skills 4 Putting 5

Ayamiyu Ozeki (20)

Her weapon is her stable putt. If her iron accuracy improves, she can aim for a second championship.

Achievements 4 Power 3 Control 4
Small skills 3 Putting 5

The “talented” group’s rewind is also not to be missed!

Yuka Yasuda (22)

Mr. Moriguchi praised Yuka Yasuda, saying, “She is in the best shape she has been in the past few years. I had the impression that she had lost sight of her own golf game recently, but her game has regained its sharpness. In recent years, she has been plagued by injuries, but so far this season, she has recorded three top-10 finishes. Her first win on the tour is finally becoming a reality.

Achievements 3 Power 3 Control 5
Small skills 4 Putting 4

Erika Hara (24)

She is one of the best flyers in the women’s professional game, but her hernia, a chronic illness, worsened this season, and she had to undergo surgery in mid-May. She lost the first half of the season, but has already started rehabilitation. In the second half of the season, we should see her “Erica smile” again.

Achievements 4 Power 5 Control 3
Small skills 4 Putting 3

Naruha Miyata (25)

With her trademark blonde hair and go-kai driver of over 255 yards, Naruha Miyata experienced her first final day and final group in three years in July, and then the following week she was in contention for victory, catapulting her to stardom.

Proven 3 Power 5 Control 3
Small skills 4 Putting 3

Hana Wakimoto (25)

After winning her first lower tour title last season, NARUHA WAKIMOTO has continued her momentum with two top-10 finishes on the first division tour this season, and will be competing in the U.S. Women’s Open in July. She is having a productive season.

Achievements 3 Power 3 Control 5
Small skills 3 Putting 4

From the July 28, 2023 issue of FRIDAY