Japan Challenge Tour
The Japan Challenge Tour, currently titled as the Abema Tour for sponsorships reasons, is a series of developmental golf tournaments run by the Japan Golf Tour Organization. It has been in operation since 1985.
| Current season, competition or edition: 2024 Japan Challenge Tour | |
| Formerly | AbemaTV Tour |
|---|---|
| Sport | Golf |
| Founded | 1985 |
| First season | 1985 |
| Countries | Based in Japan |
| Most titles | Tournament wins: Gohei Sato (5) Masamichi Uehira (5) |
| Related competitions | Japan Golf Tour |
In 2023, the schedule featured 12 tournaments, with prize funds of mostly ¥15,000,000.[1] This is about a tenth of the level of prize money per event on offer on the main Japan Golf Tour, with the main tour also having a longer season.
In January 2018, the tour signed a sponsor title agreement with AbemaTV, being renamed as the AbemaTV Tour for the 2018 season onwards.[2]
In July 2018, it was also announced that the tour would be included into the Official World Golf Ranking starting in 2019, with the winner receiving a minimum of 4 points for a 54-hole event.[3]
The top 20 players earn entry into the Japan Golf Tour.
Money list winners
| Season | Winner | Prize money (¥) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tatsunori Shogenji | 11,253,106 |
| 2022 | Yujiro Ohori | 7,798,551 |
| 2020–21 | Ryo Hisatsune | 10,922,467 |
| 2019 | Yoshikazu Haku | 6,797,444 |
| 2018 | Taihei Sato | 7,256,163 |
| 2017 | Tomoharu Otsuki | 3,787,591 |
| 2016 | Yoshinobu Tsukada | 5,509,115 |
| 2015 | Yu Morimoto | 4,479,531 |
| 2014 | Shugo Imahira | 7,444,288 |
| 2013 | Kwon Ki-taek | 5,326,885 |
| 2012 | Yuki Koko | 4,607,237 |
| 2011 | Tatsunori Nukaga | 5,846,275 |
| 2010 | Dinesh Chand | 4,780,625 |
| 2009 | Chris Campbell | 6,136,154 |
| 2008 | Masamichi Uehira | 6,329,033 |
| 2007 | Michio Matsumura | 6,685,183 |
| 2006 | Takaki Ono | 7,710,069 |
| 2005 | Shoichi Ideguchi | 5,070,263 |
| 2004 | Yoshiaki Kimura | 4,199,650 |
| 2003 | Masamichi Uehira | 3,082,833 |
| 2002 | Tatsuhiko Ichihara | 4,124,935 |
| 2001 | Hur Suk-ho | 5,150,264 |
| 2000 | Masanori Kobayashi | 3,851,250 |
| 1999 | Kosaku Makisaka | 3,461,294 |
| 1998 | No information known | |
| 1997 | ||
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| 1985 | ||
References
- "2023 Challenge Schedule". Japan Golf Tour Organization. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- "ス 「AbemaTV」がJGTO主催「チャレンジトーナメント」との年間特別スポンサー契約を締結 現「チャレンジトーナメント」から「AbemaTVツアー」へ名称を変更" ["AbemaTV" signs annual special sponsorship agreement with "Challenge Tournament" sponsored by JGTO Changed name from "Challenge Tournament" to "AbemaTV Tour"] (in Japanese). Abema. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- "Board Announcement". Official World Golf Ranking. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
The Abema TV Tour will be introduced to the OWGR at minimum points levels of 4 first place points for its tournaments that are played over 54 holes.