Ayako Okamoto (岡本 綾子, Okamoto Ayako, born 2 April 1951) is a Japanese professional golfer. She won 62 tournaments internationally, including 17 on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Okamoto was born in Akitsu, Hiroshima, now part of Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan. In her youth and early 20s she was a softball player. She was the star pitcher on the Japanese national champion in 1971. Her club team was owned by the textile company Daiwabo, where Okamoto worked. The company owned a golf facility next door, and when she was 22, Okamoto finally decided to start playing. Although she pitched left-handed, she learned golf right-handed. She would join the LPGA of Japan Tour in 1973. Just three years later, at age 25, she won the Mizuno Corporation Tournament. In 1979 (at age 28) Okamoto won the Japan LPGA Championship, and in 1981 she won eight times in Japan and topped the LPGA of Japan money list.
LPGA careerEdit
Okamoto was a superstar in Japan, but she decided to branch out and joined the American LPGA Tour in 1981. From 1982 through 1992, Okamoto won 17 times, her first coming at the 1982 Arizona Copper Classic. Okamoto was a consistent winner on the LPGA Tour, claiming four wins in 1987 (plus four runners-up and 17 top-10s) and three wins each in 1984 and 1988. In 1987, she led the tour's money list and earned the LPGA Tour Player of the Year award, the first non-American to do either.
The only thing Okamoto did not do in the United States was win a major. She finished as runner-up six times in major championships. Her best opportunities came in 1986, when she lost a sudden death playoff to Pat Bradley at the du Maurier Classic and in 1987 when she lost an 18-hole playoff to Laura Davies for the U.S. Women's Open crown (JoAnne Carner was also in the playoff). She was in the top-10 at the Open every year from 1983 to 1987, and in the top-10 at the LPGA Championship every year from 1984 to 1991.
Okamoto's last LPGA victory was in 1992, and 1993 was her last year to play a full or half schedule in the U.S. Okamoto returned to Japan after 1993, where she played until 2005. In addition to her 17 LPGA wins, Okamoto also won 44 times on the LPGA of Japan Tour, and twice on the Ladies European Tour. She was voted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on the International ballot and entered in 2005.
1980 (3) Kumamoto Cyuoh Ladies, Hokuriku Queens, Saikai National Park Ladies Open
1981 (8) Sanin Ladies Golf, KBS Ladies, Fuji Ladies Classic, Hokuriku Queens, Stanley Ladies, Japan Ladies Professional East vs West, Miyagi TV Women's Open, Sanyo Queens
ayako, okamoto, 岡本, 綾子, okamoto, ayako, born, april, 1951, japanese, professional, golfer, tournaments, internationally, including, based, lpga, tour, member, world, golf, hall, fame, 岡本, 綾子personal, informationborn, 1951, april, 1951, akitsu, hiroshimaheight5. Ayako Okamoto 岡本 綾子 Okamoto Ayako born 2 April 1951 is a Japanese professional golfer She won 62 tournaments internationally including 17 on the U S based LPGA Tour She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame Ayako Okamoto岡本 綾子Personal informationBorn 1951 04 02 2 April 1951 age 72 Akitsu HiroshimaHeight5 ft 5 in 1 65 m Sporting nationality JapanCareerTurned professional1975Former tour s LPGA of Japan Tour 1975 2005 LPGA Tour 1981 1995 Professional wins62Number of wins by tourLPGA Tour17Ladies European Tour2LPGA of Japan Tour44Best results in LPGA major championshipsChevron ChampionshipT5 1987Women s PGA C ship2nd T2 1989 1991U S Women s OpenT2 1987du Maurier Classic2nd 1984 1986 1987Achievements and awardsWorld Golf Hall of Fame2005 member page LPGA of Japan Tourleading money winner1981LPGA Tourleading money winner1987LPGA TourPlayer of the Year1987 Contents 1 Early career 2 LPGA career 3 Professional wins 62 3 1 LPGA Tour wins 17 3 2 LPGA of Japan Tour wins 44 3 3 Ladies European Tour wins 2 4 Results in LPGA Majors 4 1 Summary 5 See also 6 External linksEarly career EditOkamoto was born in Akitsu Hiroshima now part of Higashihiroshima Hiroshima Japan In her youth and early 20s she was a softball player She was the star pitcher on the Japanese national champion in 1971 Her club team was owned by the textile company Daiwabo where Okamoto worked The company owned a golf facility next door and when she was 22 Okamoto finally decided to start playing Although she pitched left handed she learned golf right handed She would join the LPGA of Japan Tour in 1973 Just three years later at age 25 she won the Mizuno Corporation Tournament In 1979 at age 28 Okamoto won the Japan LPGA Championship and in 1981 she won eight times in Japan and topped the LPGA of Japan money list LPGA career EditOkamoto was a superstar in Japan but she decided to branch out and joined the American LPGA Tour in 1981 From 1982 through 1992 Okamoto won 17 times her first coming at the 1982 Arizona Copper Classic Okamoto was a consistent winner on the LPGA Tour claiming four wins in 1987 plus four runners up and 17 top 10s and three wins each in 1984 and 1988 In 1987 she led the tour s money list and earned the LPGA Tour Player of the Year award the first non American to do either The only thing Okamoto did not do in the United States was win a major She finished as runner up six times in major championships Her best opportunities came in 1986 when she lost a sudden death playoff to Pat Bradley at the du Maurier Classic and in 1987 when she lost an 18 hole playoff to Laura Davies for the U S Women s Open crown JoAnne Carner was also in the playoff She was in the top 10 at the Open every year from 1983 to 1987 and in the top 10 at the LPGA Championship every year from 1984 to 1991 Okamoto s last LPGA victory was in 1992 and 1993 was her last year to play a full or half schedule in the U S Okamoto returned to Japan after 1993 where she played until 2005 In addition to her 17 LPGA wins Okamoto also won 44 times on the LPGA of Japan Tour and twice on the Ladies European Tour She was voted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on the International ballot and entered in 2005 Professional wins 62 EditLPGA Tour wins 17 Edit No Date Tournament Winning score Margin ofvictory Runner s up1 28 Feb 1982 Arizona Copper Classic 7 70 72 70 69 281 Playoff nbsp Sally Little2 26 Jun 1983 Rochester International 6 68 71 67 76 282 Playoff nbsp Donna White nbsp Kathy Whitworth3 15 Apr 1984 J amp B Scotch Pro Am 14 70 67 71 67 275 5 strokes nbsp Donna White4 17 Jun 1984 Mayflower Classic 7 73 67 71 70 281 2 strokes nbsp Judy Dickinson nbsp Donna White5 6 Oct 1984 Hitachi Ladies British Open 3 71 71 70 77 289 11 strokes nbsp Betsy King nbsp Dale Reid6 2 Feb 1986 Elizabeth Arden Classic 8 69 67 73 71 280 1 stroke nbsp Muffin Spencer Devlin7 7 Sep 1986 Cellular One Ping Golf Championship 9 70 71 66 207 6 strokes nbsp Nancy Lopez nbsp Colleen Walker8 12 Apr 1987 Kyocera Inamori Golf Classic 13 66 70 69 70 275 1 stroke nbsp Betsy King9 17 May 1987 Chrysler Plymouth Classic 4 70 74 71 215 2 strokes nbsp Jane Geddes nbsp Colleen Walker10 21 Jun 1987 Lady Keystone Open 8 70 74 64 208 1 stroke nbsp Laurie Rinker11 30 Aug 1987 Nestle World Championship 6 70 68 73 71 282 1 stroke nbsp Betsy King12 27 Feb 1988 Orient Leasing Hawaiian Ladies Open 3 69 72 72 213 1 stroke nbsp JoAnne Carner nbsp Deb Richard13 10 Apr 1988 San Diego Inamori Golf Classic 12 69 71 63 69 272 1 stroke nbsp Colleen Walker14 31 Jul 1988 Greater Washington Open 7 69 70 67 206 1 stroke nbsp Connie Chillemi nbsp Beth Daniel15 28 May 1989 LPGA Corning Classic 12 69 66 67 70 272 6 strokes nbsp Beth Daniel16 6 May 1990 Sara Lee Classic 6 71 71 68 210 1 stroke nbsp Pat Bradley nbsp JoAnne Carner nbsp Dawn Coe nbsp Betsy King nbsp Colleen Walker17 7 Jun 1992 McDonald s Championship 8 67 69 69 205 3 strokes nbsp Pat Bradley nbsp Brandie Burton nbsp Deb RichardNote Okamoto won the Hitachi Ladies British Open now known as the Women s British Open before it became a major championship LPGA Tour playoff record 2 4 No Year Tournament Opponent s Result1 1982 Arizona Copper Classic nbsp Sally Little Won with birdie on second extra hole2 1983 Rochester International nbsp Donna White nbsp Kathy Whitworth Won with birdie on third extra hole3 1986 du Maurier Classic nbsp Pat Bradley Lost to birdie on first extra hole4 1986 Konica San Jose Classic nbsp Amy Alcott nbsp Betsy King nbsp Patty Sheehan Sheehan won with birdie on first extra hole5 1987 U S Women s Open nbsp JoAnne Carner nbsp Laura Davies Lost 18 hole playoff Davies 71 Okamoto 73 Carner 74 6 1989 Rochester International nbsp Patty Sheehan Lost to par on first extra holeLPGA majors are shown in bold LPGA of Japan Tour wins 44 Edit 1975 1 Mizuno Golf 1976 1 All Star 1977 4 World Ladies Tohoku Queens Asahi Toys Japan Ladies Professional East vs West 1978 1 KTV Ladies Classic 1979 2 Japan LPGA Championship Tokai Classic 1980 3 Kumamoto Cyuoh Ladies Hokuriku Queens Saikai National Park Ladies Open 1981 8 Sanin Ladies Golf KBS Ladies Fuji Ladies Classic Hokuriku Queens Stanley Ladies Japan Ladies Professional East vs West Miyagi TV Women s Open Sanyo Queens 1982 4 Tohato Ladies Dunlop Ladies Japan LPGA Championship Tokai Classic 1983 1 Sanyo Queens 1984 1 Tsumura Itsuki Classic 1986 1 Nichirei Ladies Cup 1987 1 Konica Cup 1989 2 Tokai Classic Itoki Classic 1990 1 Japan LPGA Championship 1991 3 Yamaha Cup Ladies Karuizawa 72 Tokyu Ladies Open Kosaido Asahi Cup 1992 2 Tohato Ladies Fujisankei Ladies Classic 1993 2 Japan Women s Open Golf Championship Itoen Ladies 1994 3 Tohato Ladies Itoki Classic Kosaido Asahi Cup 1996 1 Fujisankei Ladies Classic 1997 1 Japan Women s Open Golf Championship 1999 1 Katokichi QueensTournament in bold denotes major championships on LPGA of Japan Tour Ladies European Tour wins 2 Edit 1984 1 Hitachi Ladies British Open co sanctioned by the LPGA Tour 1990 1 Lufthansa Ladies German OpenResults in LPGA Majors EditTournament 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991Kraft Nabisco Championship T40 T64 T34 WD T5 T35 CUT T6 T6LPGA Championship T44 T7 T5 T3 T3 T3 2 T9 T2U S Women s Open T38 T8 T8 T8 T3 T2 T12 T11 T32 T15du Maurier Classic T10 2 T69 2 2 T13 T24 T31Tournament 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000Kraft Nabisco Championship T12 79 T19 T37 T48 64 CUT T67LPGA Championship T15 T37 T28 CUTU S Women s Open CUT T7 T49 T21du Maurier Classic Top 10 Did not play CUT missed the half way cut WD withdrew T tied Summary Edit Starts 52 Wins 0 2nd place finishes 6 3rd place finishes 4 Top 3 finishes 10 Top 5 finishes 12 Top 10 finishes 21 Top 25 finishes 30 Missed cuts 4 Most consecutive cuts made 24 Longest streak of top 10s 7See also EditList of golfers with most LPGA Tour winsExternal links EditOfficial website in Japanese Ayako Okamoto at the LPGA Tour official site Ayako Okamoto at the LPGA of Japan Tour official site Ayako Okamoto bio at golfcompendium com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ayako Okamoto amp oldid 1161936268, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
