2018 Japan Golf Tour#Japan Challenge Tour

{{short description|Golf tour season}}

{{use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox golf season

| year = 2018

| tour = Japan Golf Tour

| image =

| pixels =

| caption =

| regular_season = {{start date|2018|1|18|df=y}} – {{end date|2018|12|2|df=y}}

| no_of_events = 24{{efn|One further tournament was scheduled but was cancelled.}}

| most_wins = {{flagicon|JPN}} Kodai Ichihara (2)

| honor1 = Money list

| honoree1 = {{flagicon|JPN}} Shugo Imahira

| honor2 = Most Valuable Player

| honoree2 = {{flagicon|JPN}} Shugo Imahira

| honor3 = Rookie of the Year

| honoree3 = {{flagicon|JPN}} Rikuya Hoshino

| honor4 =

| honoree4 =

| prevseason = 2017

| nextseason = 2019

}}

The 2018 Japan Golf Tour was the 46th season of the Japan Golf Tour (formerly the PGA of Japan Tour), the main professional golf tour in Japan since it was formed in 1973.

Schedule

The following table lists official events during the 2018 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.jgto.org/en/tournament?&tourna_kbn_id=1&year=2018 |title=2018 Tour Tournaments |publisher=Japan Golf Tour Organization |access-date=10 April 2023}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"

!Date !! Tournament !! Location !! Purse
(¥) !! Winner{{efn|name=totals|The number in brackets after each winner's name is the number of Japan Golf Tour events they had won up to and including that tournament. This information is only shown for Japan Golf Tour members.}} !! OWGR
points !! Other
tours{{efn|name=tour|ASA − Asian Tour.}} !! Notes

21 JanSMBC Singapore OpenSingaporealign=right|US$1,000,000{{flagicon|ESP}} Sergio García (n/a)align=center|28ASA
28 JanLeopalace21 Myanmar OpenMyanmaralign=right|US$750,000{{flagicon|USA}} Paul Peterson (1)align=center|19ASA
15 AprToken Homemate CupMiealign=right|130,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Atomu Shigenaga (1)align=center|16
22 AprPanasonic Open Golf ChampionshipOsakaalign=right|150,000,000{{flagicon|IND}} Rahil Gangjee (1)align=center|15ASA
29 AprThe CrownsAichialign=right|120,000,000{{flagicon|KOR}} Yang Yong-eun (5)align=center|16
style="background:#D6E8FF;"

| 13 May

Japan PGA ChampionshipChibaalign=right|150,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Toru Taniguchi (20)align=center|16Japan major
20 MayKansai Open Golf ChampionshipHyōgoalign=right|70,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Ryuko Tokimatsu (3)align=center|16
27 MayGateway to The Open Mizuno OpenIbarakialign=right|100,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Shota Akiyoshi (1)align=center|16
style="background:#D6E8FF;"

| 3 Jun

Japan Golf Tour Championship
Mori Building Cup Shishido Hills
Ibarakialign=right|150,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Kodai Ichihara (1)align=center|16Japan major
24 JunDunlop Srixon Fukushima OpenFukushimaalign=right|50,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Shota Akiyoshi (2)align=center|16
8 JulShigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy CupHokkaidōalign=right|150,000,000{{flagicon|AUS}} Brad Kennedy (3)align=center|16
26 AugRIZAP KBC AugustaFukuokaalign=right|100,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Daijiro Izumida (1)align=center|16
2 SepFujisankei ClassicYamanashialign=right|110,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Rikuya Hoshino (1)align=center|16
9 Sep{{efn|First two rounds played in July.}}ISPS Handa Match PlaySaitamaalign=right|230,000,000{{flagicon|THA}} Thanyakon Khrongpha (1)align=center|16
16 SepANA OpenHokkaidōalign=center|–Cancelled{{efn|Cancelled due to the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake.''{{cite web |url=https://www.jgto.org/pc/OtherTopicsDetail.do?year=2018&tournaKbnCd=0&conferenceCd=000&languageKbn=0&administerNo=836 |title=「平成30年北海道胆振東部地震」の影響によりANAオープンが開催中止 |trans-title=ANA Open canceled due to the influence of the "30 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake" |publisher=Japan Golf Tour Organization |date=6 September 2018 |access-date=30 June 2023 |language=Japanese |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912022008/https://www.jgto.org/pc/OtherTopicsDetail.do?year=2018&tournaKbnCd=0&conferenceCd=000&languageKbn=0&administerNo=836 |archive-date=12 September 2018 |url-status=live }}}}align=center|–
23 SepAsia-Pacific Diamond Cup GolfSaitamaalign=right|150,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Yuta Ikeda (20)align=center|15ASA
30 SepTop Cup Tokai ClassicAichialign=right|110,000,000{{flagicon|PHL}} Angelo Que (1)align=center|16
style="background:#f2ecce;"

| 14 Oct

Japan Open Golf ChampionshipKanagawaalign=right|200,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Yuki Inamori (1)align=center|32Flagship event{{efn|name=jpnmaj|Also a Japan major championship.}}
21 OctBridgestone OpenChibaalign=right|150,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Shugo Imahira (2)align=center|16
28 OctMynavi ABC ChampionshipHyōgoalign=right|150,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Yuta Kinoshita (1)align=center|16
4 NovHeiwa PGM ChampionshipOkinawaalign=right|200,000,000{{flagicon|ZAF}} Shaun Norris (3)align=center|16
11 NovMitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo MastersShizuokaalign=right|200,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Tatsunori Nukaga (1)align=center|18
18 NovDunlop Phoenix TournamentMiyazakialign=right|200,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Kodai Ichihara (2)align=center|30
25 NovCasio World OpenKōchialign=right|200,000,000{{flagicon|KOR}} Choi Ho-sung (2)align=center|16
style="background:#D6E8FF;"

| 2 Dec

Golf Nippon Series JT CupTokyoalign=right|130,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Satoshi Kodaira (7)align=center|17Japan major

=Unofficial events=

The following events were sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour, but did not carry official money, nor were wins official.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"

!Date !! Tournament !! Location !! Purse
(¥) !! Winner(s) !! OWGR
points !! Other
tours{{efn|name=tour}} !! Notes

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|8 Apr

Masters TournamentUnited Statesalign=right|US$11,000,000{{flagicon|USA}} Patrick Reedalign=center|100Major championship
6 MayLegend Charity Pro-AmChibaalign=right|50,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Shugo Imahiraalign=center|n/aPro-Am
style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|17 Jun

U.S. OpenUnited Statesalign=right|US$12,000,000{{flagicon|USA}} Brooks Koepkaalign=center|100Major championship
style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|22 Jul

The Open ChampionshipScotlandalign=right|US$10,500,000{{flagicon|ITA}} Francesco Molinarialign=center|100Major championship
style="background:#e5d1cb;"

|12 Aug

PGA ChampionshipUnited Statesalign=right|US$11,000,000{{flagicon|USA}} Brooks Koepkaalign=center|100Major championship
9 DecHitachi 3Tours ChampionshipChibaalign=right|57,000,000Japan PGA Senior Touralign=center|n/aTeam event

Money list

The money list was based on prize money won during the season, calculated in Japanese yen.{{cite web |url=https://www.jgto.org/en/stats/tour/money_ranking_all?year=2018 |title=2018 Money Rankings |publisher=Japan Golf Tour Organization |access-date=10 April 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.jgto.org/news/23072 |title=ジャパンゴルフツアー表彰式を開催 |trans-title=Japan Golf Tour Award Ceremony held |language=Japanese |publisher=Japan Golf Tour Organization |date=5 December 2018 |access-date=28 June 2023 |quote=華やかな受賞式の最後は、賞金王がスピーチするのが恒例だ。賞金ランキング賞のほかに、... |trans-quote=At the end of the glamorous awards ceremony, it is customary for the prize king to give a speech. In addition to the prize money ranking award...}}

class="wikitable"

! Position !! Player !! Prize money (¥)

align=center|1{{flagicon|JPN}} Shugo Imahiraalign=center|139,119,332
align=center|2{{flagicon|ZAF}} Shaun Norrisalign=center|103,942,450
align=center|3{{flagicon|JPN}} Yuki Inamorialign=center|85,301,742
align=center|4{{flagicon|JPN}} Kodai Ichiharaalign=center|82,245,918
align=center|5{{flagicon|JPN}} Yuta Ikedaalign=center|79,671,825

Awards

class="wikitable"

!Award!!Winner!!{{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

Most Valuable Player{{flagicon|JPN}} Shugo Imahira{{cite web |url=https://www.jgto.org/news/24425 |title=部門別ランキング賞、受賞者とスポンサー一覧 |trans-title=Category Ranking Awards, List of Winners and Sponsors |language=Japanese |publisher=Japan Golf Tour Organization |date=5 December 2018 |access-date=27 June 2023 |quote=最優秀選手賞 今平周吾... 最優秀新人賞 島田トロフィ 星野陸也 |trans-quote=Most Valuable Player Award: Shugo Imahira... Best Newcomer Award Shimada Trophy: Rikuya Hoshino}}
Rookie of the Year (Shimada Trophy){{flagicon|JPN}} Rikuya Hoshino

Japan Challenge Tour

{{Infobox golf season

| year = 2018

| tour = Japan Challenge Tour

| image =

| pixels =

| caption =

| regular_season = {{start date|2018|3|30|df=y}} – {{end date|2018|10|26|df=y}}

| no_of_events = 12

| most_wins = {{flagicon|JPN}} Taihei Sato (2)

| honor1 = Money list

| honoree1 = {{flagicon|JPN}} Taihei Sato

| honor2 =

| honoree2 =

| honor3 =

| honoree3 =

| honor4 =

| honoree4 =

| prevseason = 2017

| nextseason = 2019

}}

The 2018 Japan Challenge Tour, titled as the 2018 AbemaTV Tour for sponsorship reasons, was the 34th season of the Japan Challenge Tour, the official development tour to the Japan Golf Tour.

=AbemaTV title sponsorship=

In January, it was announced that the tour had signed a title sponsorship agreement with AbemaTV, being renamed as the AbemaTV Tour.{{cite web |url=https://abematv.co.jp/posts/3628255 |title=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 |trans-title="AbemaTV" signs annual special sponsorship agreement with "Challenge Tournament" sponsored by JGTO Changed name from "Challenge Tournament" to "AbemaTV Tour" |publisher=Abema |language=Japanese |date=31 January 2018 |access-date=16 September 2023}}

=Schedule=

The following table lists official events during the 2018 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.jgto.org/en/tournament?&tourna_kbn_id=2&year=2018 |title=2018 Challenge Schedule |publisher=Japan Golf Tour Organization |access-date=16 September 2023}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"

!Date!!Tournament!!Location!!Purse
(¥)!!Winner{{efn|name=totals2|The number in brackets after each winner's name is the number of Japan Challenge Tour events they had won up to and including that tournament. It is rare for someone to accumulate many wins on the Japan Challenge Tour as success at this level usually leads to promotion to the Japan Golf Tour.}}

1 AprNovil CupTokushimaalign=right|15,000,000{{flagicon|KOR}} Park Bae-jong (1)
20 Apri Golf Shaper ChallengeFukuokaalign=right|15,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Naoto Takayanagi (1)
27 AprJapan Create ChallengeFukuokaalign=right|15,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Shoji Kawai (1)
18 MayHeiwa PGM Challenge I Road to ChampionshipIbarakialign=right|15,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Keisuke Kondo (1)
8 JunISPS Handa Challenge CupChibaalign=right|20,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Ryosuke Kinoshita (1)
22 JunLandic ChallengeFukuokaalign=right|15,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Taihei Sato (1)
29 JunMinami Akita CC Michinoku ChallengeAkitaalign=right|15,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Kazuki Higa (1)
14 SepHeiwa PGM Challenge II Road to ChampionshipTottorialign=right|15,000,000{{flagicon|USA}} Dodge Kemmer (1)
21 SepElite Grips ChallengeHyōgoalign=right|15,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Taihei Sato (2)
6 OctRyo Ishikawa Everyone Project ChallengeTochigialign=right|15,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Taiji Maekawa (1)
19 OctTaiheiyo Club Challenge TournamentSaitamaalign=right|15,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Tomohiro Umeyama (2)
26 OctJGTO Novil FinalIbarakialign=right|15,000,000{{flagicon|JPN}} Yuki Kono (3)

=Money list=

The money list was based on prize money won during the season, calculated in Japanese yen.{{cite web |url=https://www.jgto.org/en/stats/challenge/money_ranking_japan?year=2018 |title=2018 Challenge Money Ranking |publisher=Japan Golf Tour Organization |access-date=29 December 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.jgto.org/news/22048 |title=AbemaTVツアー元年の賞金王は佐藤大平 |trans-title=The prize money king of the first year of the AbemaTV tour is Taihei Sato |publisher=Japan Golf Tour Organization |language=Japanese |date=27 October 2018 |access-date=16 September 2023}} The top 20 players on the money list earned status to play on the 2019 Japan Golf Tour.{{cite web |url=https://www.jgto.org/news/21979 |title=2019年のツアー前半戦出場権の結果は? |trans-title=What are the results of qualifying for the first half of the 2019 Tour? |publisher=Japan Golf Tour Organization |language=Japanese |date=27 October 2018 |access-date=16 September 2023 |quote=2019年度からツアートーナメントの出場資格が変更になり、賞金ランキング上位19名の選手(ランキング1位選手は除く)には2019年の第1回リランキングまでのツアートーナメント出場権を得ることが出来るようになった。 |trans-quote=From 2019, the eligibility for tour tournaments has changed, and the top 19 players in the prize money ranking (excluding the first ranked player) will be able to qualify for the tour tournament until the first reranking in 1.}}

class="wikitable"

! Position !! Player !! Prize money (¥)

align=center|1{{flagicon|JPN}} Taihei Satoalign=center|7,256,163
align=center|2{{flagicon|JPN}} Tomohiro Umeyamaalign=center|5,338,803
align=center|3{{flagicon|JPN}} Naoto Takayanagialign=center|4,813,256
align=center|4{{flagicon|JPN}} Ryosuke Kinoshitaalign=center|4,251,987
align=center|5{{flagicon|JPN}} Takaya Onodaalign=center|3,736,339

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}