As the only golf tournament on the western side of Japan, this unique event will also feature 6 promising next generation athletes to play alongside the top pros. Representing the United States is Alexa Pano, the 11 year-old seven-time World Champion from Lake Worth, FL.
With 4 U.S. Kids Golf Championships and 3 consecutive IMG Academy Junior World wins under her belt, Alexa is tied with Lorena Ochoa as the only 2 players - male or female - to ever win 3 consecutive times.
Alexa has garnered the golf spotlight with 55 national and regional championships, including a major win at this year’s Drive, Chip, and Putt Championship. She is also the star of Justin Timberlake’s highly acclaimed 2013 documentary, The Short Game, which followed 8 elite junior golfers as they trained for the World Championships.
On her upcoming career-first trip, Alexa says, “I am extremely excited to play at my first LPGA event – The Yonex Ladies Golf Tournament in Japan. I have found that when playing against junior golfers from Japan, they play with respect for golf’s traditions, and I have been raised to embrace these same values as well. I cannot wait to go play there!”
Top row, left to right
Alexa Pano (USA, 11)
Suzuka Yamaguchi (Japan, 15)
Rio Ishii (Japan, 16)
Bottom row, left to right
Minami Hiruta (Japan, 18)
Himawari Ogura (Japan, 17)
Momoka Sega (Japan, 17)