Takahashi Shizuku (高橋しずく) carded a career-best 65 with 9 birdies and 1 double bogey in the first round of the Fujitsu Ladies, opening tied for the lead with Hiruta Minami (蛭田みな美). Her name, which was inspired by the protagonist Shizuku Tsukishima from Whisper of the Heart, also became a topic of discussion.
The first round of the Fujitsu Ladies got underway at Tokyu Seven Hundred C in Chiba, where fourth-year professional Takahashi Shizuku (高橋しずく), 26, stood atop the leaderboard alongside Hiruta Minami (蛭田みな美) after carding a 65 with 9 birdies and 1 double bogey. She set a career best with an outstanding performance.
Takahashi recorded 23 putts for the day, the fewest in the field, sinking a 10-meter putt on the par-3 13th and a 14-meter long putt on the par-4 6th. She had set making the cut as her goal before the tournament, but said her performance had exceeded expectations, and is now aiming for her first tour win.
Takahashi, who is from Zama, Kanagawa, revealed that her name was inspired by Shizuku Tsukishima, the protagonist of Studio Ghibli’s film Whisper of the Heart. Her previous best finish was 18th at this year’s Daikin Orchid Ladies in March, and she said she would focus on each shot from the second round onward.
Looking back, Takahashi said changing her putter before the previous week’s tournament had improved her feel, and said she plans to compete without placing excessive expectations on herself as the tournament unfolds. The event is ongoing at the Chiba course, with attention focused on the remaining schedule and the competition among the players.