[ODDS and EVENS] Golf Success in 2024: Rio Takeda and Takumi Kanaya Made Their Mark

From start to finish, 2024 was a competitive year for Japan's top pro golf circuits, with season winners for the women's JLPGA Tour and the men's Japan Golf Tour capturing their overall titles in different ways.

Rio Takeda ran away with the JLPGA title, winning eight of her 32 tournaments this year. The 21-year-old rising star, who had 23 top-10 finishes, earned ¥265 million JPY ($1.7 million USD) along the way.

On the other hand, Takumi Kanaya claimed the Japan Golf Tour money title on the final day of the season, Sunday, December 1, at the Nippon Series JT Cup at the Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club in Inagi. Kanaya edged Kensei Hirata for the No 1 spot on the earnings list by placing third at 9-under 271, including a final-round 67, in the season-ending tournament.

In 2023, Kanaya finished third in the money rankings (¥141.1 million, or about $940,000), trailing only Taiga Semikawa and Keita Nakajima.

A year later, Kanaya took the money title with two victories ― and 11 top-10 finishes ―  in his 19 starts: the Token Homemate Cup (23-under 261) in March and the ACN Championship Golf Tournament (20-under 264) in October. To secure the title, Kanaya had the best scoring average on the Japan Golf Tour, 69.735 strokes per round. No other player averaged under 70. (Shugo Imahira was second at 70.092.)

Kanaya, a seven-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, pocketed ¥119.5 million (about $800,000) in 2024. Hirata, who triumphed in four tournaments this year, finished second in earnings (¥114.4 million, nearly $760,000).

Takeda Reflects on Her Golf Success in 2024

For the 23-year-old Kumamoto Prefecture native, talent, hard work and consistent play this year blended exceptionally well together. The high note of her year, of course, was the eight tournament victories ― more than twice as many wins as any other player. Akie Iwai and Chisato Iwai (golf-playing twins), Shiho Kuwaki and Haruka Kawasaki tied for second with three wins apiece.

As a result of the wins and the aforementioned bunch of top-10 finishes, Takeda collected more than ¥62 million (around $413,000) more than any other JLPGA player. Sakura Koiwai, a top-10 money finisher for sixth straight years, and Miyuu Yamashita, the 2022 and '23 season title winner, placed second and third, respectively.

In April, Takeda triumphed at the KKTcup Vantelin Ladies Open in her native Kumamoto. It was a positive omen for her.

Looking back, she recognizes the significance of that two-stroke victory.

"I won my first championship in the beginning of the season, which gave me a lot of confidence and made me think, 'I can win a championship, too,' " Takeda told reporters in a mid-November interview, NHK reported. "From there, I was able to work hard ... and I think that's the reason I was able to win eight tournaments."

Finishing with the most wins and No 1 in tournament prize money marked a breakthrough in Takeda's career.

"I was surprised because I didn't think I would be the Queen of the Year when this season started," Takeda was quoted as saying by NHK. "But I am very happy to think that I became the [top golfer]. I won a lot of championships, and I think I had a very good year of experience."

A Stressful and Joyful Conclusion for Kanaya

Kanaya, 26, capped his busy 2024 golf season with the aforementioned 3-under 67 on Sunday to secure the money title.

A mixture of emotions marked the occasion for him.

"Today's 18 holes felt like the longest I've ever played," Kanaya told reporters after the tournament wrapped up. "My mother came from Hiroshima to support me along with many fans. I'm really grateful for their support [and] I'm so happy I managed to do something which I could not do last year and that is to win the money ranking title this year."

Mission accomplished.

What will 2025 bring for Rio Takeda and Takumi Kanaya on the golf course?

RELATED:

• [ODDS and EVENS] Rio Takeda Having a Breakthrough Season on the JLPGA Tour
• [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Takumi Kanaya Aims to Encourage Cancer-Stricken Mother

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.