石川遼 - Ryo Redemption at the Nippon Series JT Cup

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It's going to be an ultra-exciting weekend as third round action begins tomorrow at the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup.


The tournament... and the top spot on the Japan Golf Tour money list... will be decided over the next two days, and Ryo Ishikawa, currently second in the money rankings, must win Sunday at Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club, in order to overcome Korea's Kim Kyung-tae and become Japan Golf Tour's leading money winner for the second consecutive year.

A devastating first round 76 made that possibility seem extremely remote until the sprightly superstar came back with superlative, second round eight-under 62, earning him a share of sixth place and putting him back into the money title mix.

Also in mix however,  is Yuta Ikeda, who heads into the third round leading by three strokes thanks to a stellar, bogey-free first round 63... and second round 69.  He too can be crowned Japanese number one with a win this weekend, and he'll tee off tomorrow six strokes ahead of his 19-year-old countryman.

Current money leader Kim... who stands to become the first JGTO money champion from South Korea... is currently in a share of 10th following a disappointing second round 73.

That's what I meant by ultra-exciting.  As you probably know,  I'm a huge fan of Ryo Ishikawa... for more reasons than I can name.  His extraordinary talent, whimsical Yonex wardrobe and sweet, shy demeanor are the obvious ones.

Noriko Yamada, a friend and fellow Ishikawa fan, sent me this link which contains the above photo of Ryo. I believe it was taken during his sensational Friday round.  His pants and hat appear to be leather, he's wearing a couple of necklaces over a turtleneck and he's sporting an awesome asymmetrical hairstyle.

Let's face it... the kid just keeps getting better.

Y. E. Yang - Korea Open Win & AsiaOne Ascension

Yang Yong-Eun has been know to come from behind.

He did it, famously, when he won the 91st PGA Championship; his memorable first major.  There, the unassuming South Korean overcame a two-shot deficit going into the final round, to finish three strokes ahead of his playing partner... who happened to be Tiger Woods.

It was a victory that changed his life. With it he became the first Asian-born male to win a major championship, and saw his world ranking rocket from 110th to 34th.

Today the self-taught 38-year-old golfer was back to his old tricks... and then some, when won the Kolon Korea Open at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club with a closing five-under-par 66 for two-stroke victory.  Considering that he'd been flirting with the cut line a couple of days earlier this win was something of a surprise, even for Mr. Yang himself.  After all,  he'd started the day 10 strokes behind the leader, 19-year-old Noh Seung-Yu.  The teen, who held the lead for most of the tournament, lost his footing in the final round and finished in a tie for fourth. ~ Yang's stunning victory at the Korean Open also sent him to the top of the OneAsia Tour Order of Merit.

Y. E. Yang is one of my favorite players so I was delighted to see this weekend's story.  I like his unique sense of style, and the fact that he taught himself to play ... at the relatively advanced age of 19 ... then went on to be one of the best in the world.  I don't know why, but that kind of thing always impresses me.

Like nine thousand something others, we follow @Y_E_ Yang on Twitter.

AP Photo/Yonhap

The Thursday Post from Golf Girl World

by Jordan Farr, aka Golf Girl Junior

Hey there GGD Readers!

Once again it’s time for my Thursday post! But I don’t suppose I really need to tell you that as I assume it’s already on your Calenders... right? And, speaking of Calenders, October is a special month for Golf Girl Media. Not only is it my birthday month (a national holiday is in the works), but more importantly, it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

As you may know we’re huge fans of Cristie Kerr and her Birdies For Breast Cancer Charity. Quite a few organizations are pitching in throughout October, and donating to Cristie's cause, including the awesome online golf boutique Golf4Her. When you purchase golf clothing and accessories at Golf4Her.com ‘s “Pretty in Pink Webtique,” 10% of the proceeds will go to to Birdies for Breast Cancer.

In the next few days, I will be doing a post about how other golfers and golf businesses are helping raise awareness and funds during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beyond.

In other Golf Girl Media news, we are now (thanks to me) entering the exciting world of contests and sweepstakes. YAY!!! I know... I’m just as excited as you are! Now you may be asking: “what kind of contest, Jordan? Tell me more!” Well, I can honestly say I don’t really know at this point. And this is where you come in. Can you help me with ideas? What are some golf products you would like to win?

Now as those of you who were listening to “Only Two Things” last night already heard, here’s the weekly question for my pop-culture-golf poll:

Justin Timberlake recently created the awesome Mirimichi golf course near Memphis, TN ...and the golf girl herself played Celine Dion’s golf course just outside of Montreal. So... what celeb would you like to see make their own course? (BTW my personal pick is Catherine Zeta Jones - she’s stylish, talented and passionate about golf).

Just leave your responses in comments or shoot me an email at: jordan@golfgirlmedia.com
And remember to check out our Facebook fan page for further updates.

Japan Women's Open - Mika Miyazato Breaks Through

She's the "other" Miyazato. Less famous... for the time-being... than current World Number 1.

Mika Miyazato grabbed her first professional title yesterday, by winning the prestigious Japan Women's Open by six strokes.

This maiden maiden victory on the JLPGA must certainly have been sweet for Mikan, considering what happened a year ago.  At the same 2009 event Miyazato entered the final round with a four-shot lead... just as she did yesterday, but late in the round the proverbial "wheels fell off", ultimately resulting in a disappointing T6 finish.

This year however the girl from Okinawa wasn't about to let history repeat itself... or at least that's how it seemed when she fired three consecutive birdies in the middle of the back nine... effectively removing all doubt that this was her year.

It was an impressive win, brought to my attention by The Constructivist whose blog, Mostly Harmless, has long been my top independent source of up-to-the-minute information on women's professional golf... and is without a doubt the definitive English language blog covering the Asian women's golf tours.

In the wake of 2010 The Ryder Cup... which reinforced the idea of golf as an increasingly global game... it's great to know there are excellent sources for news and information on golf in places that are now producing some of the world's best players.

And in the interest of fun, flirty and fashionable, check out this awesome mash-up of the past weekend's action at the Japan Women's Open.