58th PGA Senior Championship Sumitomo Corporation Summit Cup held

The PGA Senior Championship Sumitomo Corporation Summit Cup was held again this year from October 10 to 13 at the Summit Golf Club in Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Sumitomo Corporation has been the presenting sponsor of this event since 2013.

The PGA Senior Championship, Japan’s oldest senior golf tour held this year for the 58th time, is a major tournament for professional senior golfers, along with the Japan Senior Open Golf Championship. The winner qualifies to play in the Japan PGA Championship and The Senior Open Championship in the U.K. in the following year. Equipped with a wealth of experience and seasoned techniques, players aged over 50 compete to earn the title of Japan’s top senior golf pro.

This year, play was called off on the third day due to Typhoon Hagibis, which shortened the course to 54 holes for the first time since 1988. On the final day, under sunny weather following the passage of the typhoon, volunteers worked to restore the golf course early in the morning, allowing the match to be resumed with a delayed start. Hidezumi Shirakata, who commanded the lead from the first day, won his first championship, finishing at 12-under par, three shots ahead of the runner-up.

The event was televised on BS Asahi and Tokoton Ichiban Hole Namachukei, a popular program available on the golf channel, Golf Network through CS and CATV. Keep an eye out for next year’s intense competition among Japan’s leading senior golf pros.