Kenji Hosoishi

Kenji Hosoishi (born 25 March 1937)[1] is a Japanese professional golfer. Hosoishi abruptly had much success at the age of 24; as an "unknown" he defeated a number of "top players" to win the Japan Open.[2] In the late 1960s he had much success on the Asia Golf Circuit, winning the Indian Open in back-to-back years as well as the 1968 Malaysian Open. After his win in Malaysia the legendary Australian golfer Peter Thomson stated that he "is likely to emerge as the number one star on this tour."[3] Hosoishi did not meet these expectations, however. Though he continued to play consistently on the leading Asian tours in the 1970s he did not win another significant event. By the mid-1980s he had largely retired from work as a touring professional.

Kenji Hosoishi
Personal information
Born (1937-03-25) 25 March 1937
Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
Nationality Japan
Career
StatusProfessional
Professional wins5

Early life

Hosoishi was born in Fukuoka Prefecture.[1] Later he moved to Nagoya.[3] He started playing golf at the age of 13.[1] Hosoishi started his golf career as a caddy.[3]

Professional career

Hosoishi had some success early in his career. In 1961, he played the Japan Open held at Takanodai Country Club. Hosoishi played very well and had a chance to win in regulation. However his birdie putt on the final hole barely missed. He finished at 289 (+1). He entered a sudden-death playoff with Koichi Ono and Isao Katsumata, both of Japan, and Taiwan's Hsieh Yung-yo and Chen Ching-Po. On the third playoff hole, in "semi-darkness,"[2] his par won the championship.[4] Hosoishi was considered an "unknown" at the time; his victory against these "top players" was a big surprise.[2] Two years later he won the Chunichi Crowns.

As of 1966, he was playing tournaments on the Asia Golf Circuit. In March he finished in a tie for fifth at the Malayan Open.[5] By April, he was in 12th place on the Order of Merit.[6]

In 1967 he would have much success on the Asia Golf Circuit. He again played well at the Malaysian Open, finishing in a tie for eighth, three back of the champion.[7] In April he played the Indian Open. He was seven shots back entering the final round. Hosoishi shot a final round 68, tying the lowest score of the tournament. He entered a sudden death play-off with England's Malcolm Gregson. On the third playoff hole Gregson hit his approach into a bunker and Hosoishi won the championship.[8]

In 1968, he had many highlights. The first tournament he played of the season was the Philippine Open.[9] He finished T-3.[10] The following week, he finished T-2 at the Singapore Open.[11] The next week, he played the Malaysian Open. He opened with a 69 (−3) to place himself in the top ten. During the second round he shot a bogey-free 66 (−6), tying the best round of the day. He held the midway lead with fellow Japanese Shigeru Uchida.[12] In the third round, he shot a four-under-par 68. He held a three-stroke over Lu Liang-Huan.[9] In the final round, however, Hososhi had a "shaky start." His main competitor, Lu, "began making up strokes." Within an hour of teeing off, however, Hosoishi settled down with excellent putting and chips shots.[3] He finished at 271 (−17) to defeat Lu by four strokes.[13] After the round, Peter Thomson wrote in The Age, "Hosoishi outplayed us all, and is likely to emerge as the number one star on this tour."[3] Shortly after the victory he took the lead on the circuit's Order of Merit.[14]

The following month, in April, he played the Indian Open in defense of his championship. Australian Stan Peach led by four over Hosoishi entering the final round. However, Hosoishi eagled the par-5 9th to cut the lead in half. On the back nine, Peach putted poorly to fall back. By the 14th hole, Hosoishi took the solo lead for the first time. Ultimately, he shot a final round 69 (−4) to defeat Peach by two. He finished at 285 (−7).[15] He was the first player to win the tournament back-to-back.[16] During this era, Hideyo Sugimoto was considered his only rival from Japan.[3]

His good play over the course of the year earned him entry to multiple elite international events. In August, it was announced that he earned entry into the Alcan Golfer of the Year Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in England.[17] In October, he played the event. He finished in 21st place among 23 golfers.[18] In November, he represented Japan at the 1968 World Cup held in Rome, Italy.

Hosoishi would not follow up on this success. In the early 1970s, he often played well during the beginning of tournaments but failed to follow through on the weekend. In 1970, he was one back of Hsieh Yung-yo's lead entering the final round of the Singapore Open.[19] However, he shot a final round 72 (+1) to finish five back, in a tie for sixth.[20] The following week, he established a "scorching pace" at the Malaysian Open, shooting a bogey-free 65 (−7) to take the solo lead.[21] However, he shot a second round 76 (+4) and was not in contention thereafter. He finished in a tie for 31st.[22] The following year, in 1971, he again played excellently during the beginning of the Singapore Open. He opened with a bogey-free 67 (−4), holding the joint lead.[23] He remained in serious contention entering the final round, just one back.[24] However, he shot a final round 74 and finished six back, in a tie for eighth.[25] Later in the year, he opened with the joint lead at the Japan Airlines Open.[26] However, he was not near the lead as the tournament concluded.[27]

Hosoishi did not record many highlights for the remainder of his career. He continued to play on the main Asian golf tours, however. As of the mid-1970s he was stilling playing on the Asia Golf Circuit.[28] He also played on the Japan Golf Tour through the mid-1980s.[1]

Professional wins (5)

Asia Golf Circuit (1)

Other wins (4)

References
  1. "Kenji Hosoishi". Japan Golf Tour Organization. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  2. "Miyaoka Places 38th In Japan Open Tourney". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. United Press International. 10 November 1961. p. 25. Retrieved 10 December 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  3. Thomson, Peter (11 March 1968). "Top golfer a roly-poly". The Age. p. 19 – via Google News Archive.
  4. "Obscure Jap Pro Wins Japan Open". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. 11 November 1961. p. 13. Retrieved 10 December 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  5. "Henning wins Malayan Open". The Age. 14 March 1966. p. 19 – via Google News Archive.
  6. "Lu well ahead in F-E Circuit race". The Straits Times. 5 April 1966. p. 19. Retrieved 1 December 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  7. "'Last-round' Legaspi!". Retrieved 1 December 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  8. "Hosoishi triumphs". The Straits Times. Singapore. 18 April 1967. p. 18. Retrieved 7 July 2020 – via National Library Board.
  9. "Hosoishi leads but Lu is on his tail". The Straits Times. 10 March 1968. p. 22. Retrieved 1 December 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  10. "Hsu wins by 8 strokes". The Straits Times. 26 February 1968. p. 4. Retrieved 13 March 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  11. "Yung-Yo fires eagle to signal victory". The Straits Times. 4 March 1968. p. 20 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  12. "Japanese show the way now". The Straits Times. 9 March 1968. p. 21. Retrieved 1 December 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  13. "Open golf to Japanese". The Canberra Times. 12 March 1968. p. 19. Retrieved 1 December 2020 – via Trove.
  14. "Vines up in the money". The Canberra Times. 26 March 1968. p. 20. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  15. "Hosoishi snatches Open from Peach". The Straits Times. 16 April 1968. p. 21. Retrieved 7 July 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  16. "Facts and figures - Hero Indian Open". European Tour. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  17. "Charles, Cole in golf title". The Canberra Times. AAP-Reuter. 28 August 1968. p. 32. Retrieved 1 December 2020 – via Trove.
  18. Jacobs, Raymond (7 October 1968). "Brewer's accuracy from tees decisive in Alcan". The Glasgow Herald. p. 7 – via Google News Archive.
  19. "Murray, Yung Yo lead into last round". The Straits Times. 1 March 1970. p. 26. Retrieved 1 December 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  20. "Yung Yo's S'pore Open by 2 strokes". The Straits Times. 2 March 1970. p. 24. Retrieved 19 March 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  21. "Hosoishi sets scorching pace". The Straits Times. 6 March 1970. p. 24. Retrieved 1 December 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  22. "Arda's title as Kono flops at last two holes". The Straits Times. 9 March 1970. p. 24. Retrieved 19 March 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  23. "Tight finish for Open". New Nation. 5 March 1971. p. 15. Retrieved 1 December 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  24. "Serious Yasuda takes Open lead". The Straits Times. 7 March 1971. p. 31. Retrieved 1 December 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  25. "Yasuda holds off challenge". New Nation. 8 March 1971. p. 14. Retrieved 15 December 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  26. "Three-way JAL tie". The Straits Times. 14 May 1971. p. 26. Retrieved 16 December 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
  27. "Graham's Golf Title". The Canberra Times. AAP-Reuter. 17 May 1971. p. 13. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  28. "Marsh is tipped to win in Bangkok". The Straits Times. 28 March 1973. p. 30. Retrieved 1 December 2020 – via National Library Board Singapore.
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