Can the Late-Blooming Generation Surpass the Golden Generation? New Golfers Celebrate Passing the Pro Test

Eight players passed the test by “slipping in” at 4-over.

From October 29 to November 1, the 2012 Japan Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association (JLPGA) final professional test was held at Oarai Golf Club in Ibaraki Prefecture, one of the most prestigious courses in Japan. The course is a seaside course facing the Pacific Ocean, which makes it especially difficult to play on days with strong sea breezes, and the players were forced to battle against the wind on many occasions.

The passing line varied between a total score of 3-over and 4-over, and the 4-over players nervously watched the score reports, happy or sad. After all the players holed out, there were no players at 3-over, and the eight players at 4-over tied for 19th place, which was the passing line. When the scores were finalized, the tears of frustration turned to tears of joy for the 4-over players, who had now qualified for the professional ranks.

While waiting for the scores to be determined, Kanako Aoki (24), who holed out at 4-over on her sixth attempt, was asked, “If you pass, what generation would you like to be called? When I asked her, “What generation would you like to be called? When I asked her, “ What generation would you like to be called?” she replied jokingly, “Only the plus-four generation (laughs). We interviewed three of those who had “slipped up” and passed the exam.

Hinano Rokuguruma (22) from Saitama, Japan, 5th professional test

As an amateur, she was a member of the Japan Golf Association (JGA) National Team, which has produced many world-class players, including Ai Miyazato, Sakura Yokomine, Minami Katsu, Mone Inami, Nasa Hataoka, Ayaka Furue, Yuri Yoshida, and Yuna Nishimura. She has challenged for the pro test as a top amateur, but has failed to pass the test and has been in tears four times. In this year’s test, he unexpectedly made a bogey on the 18th hole on the final day. He holed out at 4-over. I thought, “Oh, it’s over. I felt like I had wasted another year. But he passed with flying colors.

My life up to now has been a little different from my ideal, but now I can start working toward it again.

Despite the high expectations, she was unable to reach the pass line. Tears of joy came to her eyes as she recalled the difficult days of her life. She repeatedly expressed her gratitude to those who supported her.

It’s been a long road, but I feel that it was those difficult times that made it all worthwhile. I am truly grateful to all those who supported me.”

After passing the professional test, Coach Akishi Tsujimura congratulated him on his hard work and encouraged him to “start over again and aim higher.I was really happy. I was really happy, and it made me feel like, ‘Okay, I’m going to do it! I felt like, ‘ Okay, I ‘m going to do it ! Momoko Ueda, a fellow pro and my senior, told me, “You can be happier!　You should spend a week or so feeling like, ‘Yes! I ‘ m not that type of person,” she said. I’m not that type of person (laughs). (Laughs.) I’m just like, ‘Next time! I ‘m already focused on the next step. On the other hand, she is also looking forward to a trip to Korea as a reward for passing the exam, she says with a smile.

I love beauty,” she says with a smile. My goal is to make my skin beautiful so that I can show it off as a professional. I haven’t been able to get my nails done at all, so when I earn enough money, I want to give myself a treat.

I want to become a professional so that fans will call me “Mugu-chan,”” she says with a smile. I want to be a friendly person, and I want to be the kind of player that people will cheer for,” she said, eager to create a new character as a professional.

Suzu Yoshida (20) from Chiba, Japan, 4th time to test

I’m still as happy as I was yesterday, but I was so happy I couldn’t sleep.

One night after passing the test, Suzu Yoshida was still excited about her success. Immediately after passing the test, she said it took her about an hour to express her gratitude to those who contacted her to congratulate her.

Her sister is Yuri Yoshida, who has won three times on the Tour and is currently competing on the U.S. Tour. She is a remarkable player who won the low amateur title at this year’s “KKT Cup Banteling Ladies” and “Bridgestone Ladies Open”. With her sister’s fame, people around her had high expectations for her, but last year, she was in the second round of the qualifying round. This time, she was far behind, finishing in 90th place at 7-over on the first day, but she kept her concentration and passed the test.

He sees his first few years as a professional as the time to compete, saying, “I think the first three years after becoming a professional are important.Athletes have a short life span, and I think my twenties will pass quickly,” she said emphatically, “I want to start my rookie year with the mindset of aiming for victory. She has experienced many matches since her amateur days, and hopes to use that experience to achieve results as soon as possible.

Her sights are already set on the future. Through the pro test, I realized that I have to work harder,” she said. I saw my weaknesses, so I will work even harder,” says Yoshida, who is not only happy but also aware of the challenges she faces. In the next rookie tournament, “My goal is to win! she declared emphatically.

Her ultimate goal is to play in the Olympics and on the U.S. Tour. I have passed the pro test, so it has become a reality for me. I want to set a firm course and go for it. It seems that she is broadening her horizons beyond Japan to the world, and is drawing up her dreams as a golfer.

In a slightly more relaxed question, she was asked, “Would you like to work as a waitress for a day at a tavern owned by your father (where your sister has also worked before)? I might if they ask me to do it (laughs). I like that kind of thing,” she replied jokingly with a bright smile.

I am now looking forward to seeing the sisters in action next year.

Kanako Aoki (24) from Miyazaki, Japan, 6th professional test

Until last year, Kanako Aoki was a hard worker who spent five years as a trainee caddie at Phoenix Country Club in Miyazaki Prefecture, while working as a professional golfer. There was a time when he gave up on the idea of becoming a professional, but he came to Tokyo to try again. As he said, he passed with flying colors.

Kanako Aoki said she could not contain her excitement the night she passed. I couldn’t sleep at all because of all the adrenaline! I couldn’t sleep at all!” she recalls with a smile. Green is my lucky color. That’ s why I wore green on the last day.

He was in perfect physical condition during the test. I took a cue from (Dodger) Otani when it comes to sleep,” he said. I make sure I go to bed at 9:30 a.m.,” he said. He is also particular about his bedding : “I love the hard, low pillows from Nitori!　I don’t like fluffy hotel pillows, and I can fall asleep easily with my own pillow. It seems that taking a sauna every day to refresh himself was also a secret to his success.

He passed the exam on his sixth attempt. Once again, he talks about the importance of continuing to challenge yourself.

It took me six years,” he said. I had been working as a caddie for almost five years, but last November I took the plunge and left Phoenix to work at ……, and I’m glad I did. The first thing to do is to make sure that you have a good idea of what you want to do and how you want to do it. I think I need to improve myself more and more.

As for her attitude as a professional golfer, she is aware of her admirers : “Ever since I saw Ai Miyazato cheering up on YouTube, I always try to look up even if I make a bogey or a down ball.I want to be a golfer who is loved like Ai,” says Aoki . Her cheerful and positive attitude may be the reason why she is supported by so many fans.

Aoki was all smiles even during the nerve-wracking final round. When the camera is pointed at me, I just smile. When the camera was pointed at me at the starting hole, I said to Mayu Wakui, ‘This is not Mynavi (note),'” she said with a smile, putting the audience at ease with her natural cheerfulness and service spirit.

She also has a slightly more realistic dream. My goal is to save up money and drive a Porsche Macan or Audi Q5! 　I’ m determined to drive this car when I become a professional,” she says with a smile, proud of the professional title she has earned after six years of trying, but also ambitious about her realistic goal of saving up to buy a car. With the support of her fans and others around her, we look forward to her professional growth.

(Note) “Mynavi Next Heroine”: A tournament for nurturing young female players. Since some of the entry slots are decided by fan votes, self-promotion is an important factor.