Amateur Aces Aiming to Upstage Professional Rivals  04:51, 14/05/2021

Co-sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) and the Asian Tour, the latest edition of the historic Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC)-supported event is taking place at Sagamihara Golf Club’s storied East Course in Kanagawa Prefecture.

One of the Japan Golf Association’s (JGA) four National Championships, alongside the Japan Open, Japan Women’s Open and Japan Senior Open, the Asia-Pacific Open Diamond Cup’s reputation was further enhanced last year when it was recognised by The R&A with the enticement of an invitation to the champion to compete in The Open.

Traditionally, the Asia-Pacific Open Diamond Cup allocates 20 spots for the APGC’s leading amateurs, including the winner of the previous year’s APGC Junior Championship Mitsubishi Corporation Cup.

However, due to travel restrictions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s event will proceed without overseas amateurs. Nonetheless, a strong showing is expected from the 15 Japanese amateurs in the starting line-up, led by Nakajima and Ren Yonezawa, seventh in the WAGR and low amateur when the Asia-Pacific Open Diamond Cup was last staged in 2019.

Second-place in last month’s Token Homemade Cup on the JGTO, his third consecutive top-10 finish on the circuit, saw 20-year-old Nippon Sport Science University student Nakajima rise 10 places to replace American Pierceson Coody as the world’s top male amateur.
Team and individual gold medallist at the Asian Games in Indonesia and joint runner-up to Takumi Kanaya in the 10th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Singapore in 2018, Nakajima is now seeking to become only the fifth amateur to win on the Japan Golf Tour.

Under guidance from the JGA, it was in 2014 that the Diamond Cup Golf and Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship merged into the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf, in partnership with the Mitsubishi Corporation and Osaka-based Kansai Television Co Ltd.

A one-hour drive from downtown Tokyo, Sagamihara Golf Club has hosted the Japan Open Golf Championship on three occasions with Toru Taniguchi emerging triumphant the last time it was held there in 2007. It was also the venue for the Japan Women’s Open Golf Championship in 2013, won by Mika Miyazato.

Designed by Yuji Kodera, the East Course was opened in 1955. The course was remodelled by Yoshikazu Murakami in 1963, allowing for two greens on each hole, ensuring the layout is playable year-round.

The Asia-Pacific Open Diamond Cup Golf is part of the APGC’s portfolio of events that also includes the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, Nomura Cup, Queen Sirikit Cup, APGC Senior Championship, APGC Junior Championship Mitsubishi Corporation Cup, Bonallack Trophy and Patsy Hankins Trophy.