Sapporo, Hokkaido – Play resumed at the Hokkaido Meiji Cup on Saturday, August 9th, at the Sapporo International Contry Club Shimamatsu Course, with several Japanese golfers making strong showings. The tournament, a key event on the LPGA of Japan Tour, saw Future Hamasaki and Hibiki Iriya tied for third place after the second round, while Akari Sakuma and Yume Fujita are tied for 15th.
Hamasaki Future (Tie 3rd place: -6) expressed satisfaction with adjustments made to her swing. “I didn’t get much better yesterday, but I made some adjustments and I was able to swing comfortably today,” Hamasaki stated. She emphasized a focus on her current performance rather than anticipating a win, saying, “I’m not the type who can play well even if I want to win, so I want to concentrate on the golf in front of me.”
Iriya Hibiki (Tie 3rd place: -6) discussed a challenging resumption of play. “The shots (when the first round resumed) were pretty good,” Iriya noted, adding that a poor shot could have resulted in a bogey. She also highlighted a missed opportunity on the 8th hole, expressing regret about not reaching the green in one shot on the par 5. The Sapporo International Country Club Shimamatsu Course is a par 72.
Yume Fujita (Tie 15th place: -4) acknowledged fatigue after qualifying and expressed a desire to improve her position in the final round. “I’m pretty tired. I passed the qualifying round, but I haven’t been able to improve much, so I want to extend it as much as I can on the final day tomorrow,” Fujita said. She described her approach as calm but admitted to struggling with shot execution, despite playing offensively.
Sakuma Akari (Tie 15th place: -4) also commented on a long day of play. “It was a long day, but I’m glad I managed to play for two days,” Sakuma stated. She identified putting inconsistencies and bogeys as areas for improvement, as well as a need to refine her tee shots. Sakuma expressed hope for a strong final round and a comfortable wait at the clubhouse.
The Hokkaido Meiji Cup continues on Sunday, August 10th, with the final round determining the champion. The tournament features a total prize purse of ¥140 million (approximately $930,000 USD as of August 9, 2024). The Sapporo International Country Club Shimamatsu Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., is known for its challenging layout and scenic beauty.
