Japan Open Disc Golf Championship Returns After 7-Year Hiatus
Date Published
The highly anticipated Japan Open Disc Golf Championship has made its triumphant return to the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) tour after a seven-year hiatus. This year's tournament marks the 14th edition of the event, which was last held in 2011 before being cancelled due to the devastating aftermath of the 2011 Tsunami.
Organized by Hero Disc Golf, in partnership with Innova Champion Discs, Keen Shoes, and the Japanese Professional Disc Golf Association (JPDGA), the Japan Open is considered one of the most coveted events on the PDGA tour. Tournament Director Kozo Shimbo and Innova President Dave Dunipace have introduced a fresh twist to this year's competition by transforming the Robert Trent Jones-designed ball golf course at Nasu Highlands into two 18-hole disc golf courses.
The event has already attracted a record-breaking number of participants, with 144 competitors registered to date. The tournament will kick off on June 1st with several days of practice available on both courses for the competing players. On June 4th, the opening ceremonies will be held at the resort, followed by the start of competition on June 5th and concluding on June 7th.
One of the unique aspects of the Japan Open is its "150-class" format. Competitors must use discs with a total mass no greater than 159 grams, which are weighed in individually before each round. This rule adds an exciting element to the competition, as players will be forced to adapt to using discs that may not typically feature in their bags.
The Japan Open is one of four PDGA Majors scheduled for this year and will coincide with the United States Amateur Disc Golf Championships in Milford, MI. To follow the live scores and updates from the tournament, visit PDGALive.com or search Twitter for #JapanOpen.
For those interested in witnessing the excitement firsthand, Tochigi, Japan is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time. The first round begins on Thursday, June 5th at approximately 8:30AM local time, which translates to Wednesday evening at 7:30PM EDT in the United States.
The Japan Open promises to be an action-packed weekend, filled with thrilling competition and entertainment for disc golf enthusiasts around the world. Stay tuned to PDGA.com for more updates, articles, and coverage of both major events.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/return-japan-open-disc-golf-championship