On the second day of the Higuchi Hisako・Mitsubishi Electric Ladies on the women’s professional golf tour, Sakura Koiwai (小祝さくら) maintained the lead with a 68, consisting of 5 birdies and 1 bogey. Her husband, Yuto Katsuragawa (桂川有人), is third on the domestic tour, 3 strokes back, setting up a final day in which both could finish near the top.
On the second day of the tour, Sakura Koiwai (小祝さくら) (Nitori) shot a 68 to maintain the lead at 11 under par overall. On the front nine, she set up a birdie within 4 meters on the 7th, within approximately 10 centimeters on the 8th, and then made consecutive birdies with a tap-in from 1 meter on the 9th. On the final 18th, she moved the ball to within 1 meter with a wedge from 32 yards out to improve her score.
Koiwai, who injured her left wrist last summer, underwent surgery and returned this year. The pain in the affected area subsided during the summer, and she has been steadily regaining her form since the opening event of the season. Looking back on the difficulties she faced after returning, she said she wanted to perform to the best of her ability tomorrow as well.
The players born in fiscal 1998 known as the Golden Generation have recorded 59 wins in total. The battle for the lead this time has become a situation that could lead to the generation’s “60th victory,” including their 12th win. Koiwai is scheduled to enter the final day in the final group with fellow generation member Akira Yamaji (山路晶).
Meanwhile, her husband, Yuto Katsuragawa (桂川有人), is third, 3 strokes back, on another domestic tour this week, setting up a contest in which he and Koiwai are both aiming to finish near the top on the same day. Expectations are being reported for the unusual prospect of a married couple winning on the same day.