Topy Cup Tournament History

 

JAPANESE MEN’S TEAMS HAVE WON FOURTEEN OF THE LAST NINETEEN TOURNAMENTS

This trip is not simply a vacation as a reward for past accomplishments! Bring your "A" game because you will need it. This tournament was started so that the Japanese could learn from us. They have learned well.

 

HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS

Eight years ago year, Clemson found themselves in a titanic battle with Tohoku Fukushi. They knew what they had to do because of numerous leaderboards on the course. Larry Penley’s Tigers pulled off some great clutch shots down the stretch to grab the championship. Clemson won the NCAA later that season. On the girls side, Oklahoma State won the team and individual titles.

Seven years ago, Tohoku Fukushi shot -8 and got revenge with a 20 stroke victory over Duke. California (+30) returned the favor with a 20 stroke victory over the Tohoku Fukushi women.

 

Six years ago, New Mexico shot -17 to nip Auburn by three strokes and Spencer Levin (UNM) birdied five of the last 6 holes to shoot -11 to take the championships. Only four of the men shot better than 2 under par for the tournament.

 

On the women’s side,  Tohoku Fukushi won (+7) as their players finished first (C. Yamamoto @ -3) and second (-2). Florida was our top team finishing ten strokes behind Tohoku Fukushi. Whitney Myers (UF) finished third at +2.

 

Five years ago, Georgia State and Tohoku Fukushi were dead tied going into the last round. Tohoku Fukushi shot a steady 70-71-72-73 to nip Georgia State by three strokes. Matt Haastrup from Georgia State tied Ikeda from Tohoku Fukushi but lost in the playoff when he hit his tee shot out of bounds on the tight 18th hole.

On the women’s side, Washington started well before Tohoku Fukushi put the pedal to the metal. They shot 899 to win. Washington shot 913 and Arizona State was at 914. Individually, Tohoku Fukushi players finished first and third. Paige Mackenzie finished 2nd, only two strokes back, shooting 68-79-68.


Four years ago, the Arizona State men entered the final round with an eight stroke lead over Kentucky and an 11 stroke lead over Tohoku Fukushi. But it was all Tohoku Fukushi in the last round as they shot 10 under par to pull off another come from behind victory. They were led by Daisuke Yasumoto whose final round 67 passed ASU’s Niklas Lemke who finished second.
On the women’s side, it was all USA as Southern California nipped Stanford by two for the title. USC’s Veronica Felibert shot 75-72-70 to win by two strokes. In all fairness, Japan’s top players for men and women were playing in the World Amateur Championship in Italy. This year, there will be no conflict.

Three years ago, after two rounds, Alabama had the lead with Stanford second and Tohoku Fukushi third. However, the Japanese champions again put on the last round charge and won the tournament by a single stroke over Alabama. Tohoku Fukushi -22, Alabama -21, Stanford -17 Duke -12. Alabama’s Joseph Sykora shot 14 under to win by four strokes.


On the women’s side, Nihon University led Denver by 11 strokes after the first round. But that’s when Denver took control. They won by ten over Nihon. Denver +11, Nihon +21. Denver’s Katie Kempter tied with a Meiji University individual at -2 but lost in a sudden death playoff.

          

Two years ago, Tohoku Fukushi took all the excitement out of the competition on the men’s side. They won by twenty strokes over Lamar University. Japanese teams also took 3rd, 4th, and tied for 5th with New Mexico. Justin Harding (Lamar) was the best American taking 5th place, 9 strokes behind Yoshinori Fujimoto from TFU.

           

On the women’s side, we did a lot better. UCLA won and Tulsa was second. Glory Yang (UCLA) tied with Akari Yamamoto from Doshisha and won in a playoff.

 

Looking at some more distant history, U.S. teams won the first seven years but Nihon University won six of the next eight years. One year, Phil Mickelson nipped David Duval by a stroke. Eleven years ago, the new Japanese power, Tohoku Fukusi, won the tournament and Greg Padilla from Arizona State won by a stroke. Ten years ago, Washington won by two strokes over Duke. BYU finished third a stroke in front of Nihon University. Troy Kelly, from Washington, won the individual title. Nine years ago, Tohoku Fukushi won again with Nippon University second and Texas third. Riki Ikeda, from Nihon, shot 210 (-6) to nip Texans John Klauk and Conrad Roberts. Eight years ago, Tohoku Fukushi won again by a landslide while Graeme McDowell took the individual title.

           

On the women's side, the Japanese girls are improving rapidly. Both Nihon and Senshu Universities have won two times and have edged out the likes of Duke, UCLA, Georgia, and Tulsa in recent years. Eleven years ago, Arizona State won the tournament by three strokes over the Nihon women. Grace Park birdied the last hole to tie Ms. Ohyama, from Nihon University, and then won in a playoff. Ten years ago, the Duke girls won the tournament edging out Nihon University. Pepperdine was fifth. Kristina Engstrom, from Duke shot 75-71 to beat teammate Beth Bauer by a stroke. Ms. Ohyama, finished 2nd for the second year in a row. Nine years ago, Texas (891) beat Tulsa (911) while Longhorns Kristin Dufour and Jessica Reese grabbed the top two spots. In 2001, Auburn University won.

           

We need to put our best foot forward in Japan to live up to our reputation as collegiate golf leaders of the world.