Mitsuki Katahira
Personal information
NicknameMickey[1]
Born (1989-09-04) 4 September 1989
Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Sporting nationality Japan
ResidenceOrmond Beach, Florida, U.S.
Career
CollegeDaytona State College
Turned professional2011
Former tour(s)LPGA Tour
Symetra Tour

Mitsuki Katahira (片平 光紀, Katahira Mitsuki, born 4 September 1989) is a retired Japanese professional golfer. In 2011, she was world No. 1 in the inaugural World Amateur Golf Ranking.[2]

Amateur career

Katahira was born in 1989 in the Greater Tokyo Area, Japan. After graduating from junior high school, she moved to Hilton Head, South Carolina, to attend the International Junior Golf Academy. When she arrived, she couldn't speak English,[3] a situation she shared with classmate I. K. Kim.[4] In 2007, she won The Memorial Junior, an AJGA event.[5]

Katahira played NJCAA college golf at Daytona State College. In 2010, she took first place at the NJCAA Women's Golf Championship, scoring 211 (−5) for the tournament, the lowest three-round score in NJCAA tournament history. She also set an individual record by shooting a 64 on day two, the lowest single round score by an individual.[6]

In 2011, she defended her NJCAA Women's Golf Championship title. In nine starts, she won six times and was runner-up in her other three starts, recording a 70.92 stroke average.[7]

Professional career

Katahira turned professional in 2011 and tied for 31st at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn conditional status.[8] Sharing her time between the LPGA Tour and the Symetra Tour, she lost a playoff at the 2013 Island Resort Championship in Michigan.[9][10]

After only three seasons, a hand injury ended her career.[3] She stayed in the United States and became a golf journalist and broadcaster for Golf Channel Japan[4] and Golf Digest Japan.[11]

Amateur wins

  • 2007 The Memorial Junior
  • 2010 LPGA Xavier International, NJCAA Women's National Championship
  • 2011 JU Women's Classic, Kiawah Island Intercollegiate, John Kirk/Panther Intercollegiate, World Golf Village Intercollegiate, NJCAA Women's National Championship, Florida Stroke Play

Sources:[1][5][12]

Playoff record

Symetra Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 2013 Island Resort Championship United States Kim Kaufman Kaufman won with par on first extra hole

References

  1. 1 2 Trey Jones (11 October 2010). "Daytona State College Women's Golf Wins Xavier International Invitational". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "R&A and USGA Launch Rankings Site". USGA. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 "片平光紀。初代世界アマランク1位、国境を越えゴルフの魅力を発信する。" (in Japanese). AZrena. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Katahira and Kim enjoy an international friendship". 13 ABC Action News. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  5. 1 2 "The Memorial Junior". AJGA. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Daytona State golfer Mitsuki Katahira Ranked No. 1 in women's amateur golf". National Junior College Athletic Association. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "CI Podcast/Daytona's Mitsuki Katahira". Golf Digest. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "金子絢香が米ツアー出場資格獲得！" (in Japanese). Golf Digest Japan. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "2013 Island Resort Championship". Epson Tour. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "Kim Kaufman wins Island Resort Championship for first Symetra Tour title". Star Tribune. 30 June 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "コ・ジンヨン 世界1位が白いウェアを着る理由＜LPGA選手名鑑＞". Golf Digest (in Japanese). 31 March 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Mitsuki Katahira". World Amateur Golf Ranking. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
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