Golf Nippon Series
The Golf Nippon Series (ゴルフ日本シリーズJTカップ, Gorufu nihon shirīzu jei-tī kappu) is an annual event on the Japan Golf Tour. The event is currently called the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup, named after the sponsor Japan Tobacco. It was sponsored by Hitachi from 1988 to 1997. The event was first played in 1963. Since 1985 it has been played at the Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club. It has recently been one of the last events of the season. It has a field of 30 consisting of the top players from the money list and all current year tournament winners.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Inagi, Tokyo |
| Established | 1963 |
| Course(s) | Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club |
| Par | 70 |
| Length | 7,023 yards (6,422 m) |
| Tour(s) | Japan Golf Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | ¥130,000,000 |
| Month played | December |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 262 Masashi Ozaki (1996) |
| To par | −26 Masashi Ozaki (1996) |
| Current champion | |
 | |
Since 2009 the prize money has been ¥130,000,000, with ¥40,000,000 going to the winner, except in 2011 when the event was reduced to 54 holes and prize money was reduced by 25%. In 1988 prize money was ¥50,000,000, with ¥14,000,000 for the winner, increasing to ¥60,000,000, with ¥15,000,000 winner from 1989 to 1992. From 1993 to 2008 prize money was ¥100,000,000, with ¥30,000,000 for the winner.
Field
From its inception in 1963 to 1972 the field was limited to the winners of six important tournaments in Japan: Japan Open, Japan PGA Championship, Kansai Open, Kansai Pro Championship, Kanto Open and Kanto Pro Championship. In some years a player won two of these event and the field was reduced further, to five.
Tournament hosts
| Years | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 (co-hosts) | Murasaki Country Club, Sumire Course | Noda, Chiba |
| 1963–90 (co-hosts), 1992, 1994 | Yomiuri Country Club | Nishinomiya, Hyogo |
| 1964–90 (co-hosts), 1991, 1993, 1995–present | Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club | Inagi, Tokyo |
From 1963 to 1990 the event was played at two venues, one near Ozaki and another near Tokyo. The first two rounds were played at one venue and, after a travel day, the remaining two rounds were played at the second venue.
Winners
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* Indicates weather-shortened to 54 holes
^ Indicates weather-shortened to 36 holes
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
References
- "Golf Nippon Series JT Cup 2019 – Past Champions". Japan Golf Tour Organisation. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- "Golf Nippon Series JT Cup". Hochi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- "Past tournament results". Japan Tobacco (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 March 2020.