|
Post by philknj on Jul 10, 2018 1:52:41 GMT
Who is Samantha Thavasa? There is no such person, but Wikipedia has the origin of this brand's name:
Samantha Thavasa is a Japanese luxury fashion house founded in 1994 by Kazumasa Terada. The label is known primarily for its handbags popular among women in their twenties. Other accessory lines such as Samantha Thavasa Deluxe, Samantha Vega, Samantha Thavasa New York were created to meet different markets.
The company was founded in 1994 by Kazumasa Terada, the current CEO and president. Its name is derived from the characters Samantha and Tabitha Stephens from the American sitcom series Bewitched. The company has over 130 retail stores in Japan. In late 2006, Samantha Thavasa opened its first U.S. store in New York City.
The NYC store no longer exists, but they have one U.S-based store in Honolulu.
*****
If there was ever a JLPGA event that was the polar opposite of a typical LPGA event, this is it. A sample from 2016:
**********
Hae Rym Kim will begin her championship defense on Friday...Japan TV (local time):
TV Tokyo
Sat. 4:00 - 5:15 PM Sun. 4:00 - 5:15 PM
*****
Golf Network will show the 1st hole live (local time):
Sat. 7:00 - 10:15 AM
Sun. 7:30 - 10:15 AM
You might find this channel on Youtube via this query:
サマンサタバサ ガールズコレクション・レディーストーナメント
|
|
|
Post by 18majors on Jul 10, 2018 2:04:11 GMT
Karis Davidson has finally returned to Japan from Australia and will play this week.
It's been a challenging stretch for Karis; she missed three straight cuts by one shot.
|
|
|
Post by philknj on Jul 10, 2018 8:28:53 GMT
The tournament's IG has numerous postings from Tuesday's practice for Team Samantha. A couple of samples:
Natsuka Hori
|
|
|
Post by philknj on Jul 11, 2018 1:21:28 GMT
The link above has this week's Step Up tour event, the 2018 ANA Princess Cup (Wed thru Fri). Just saw Esther Lee tee off with a pretty good drive at #1...I don't know how she got stuck on this tour...was 14th on the big tour money list in 2014 and she's only 32.
Na Ri Lee was even better in 2014, finishing 8th on money list...also stuck in the minors and she just turned 30.
|
|
|
Post by philknj on Jul 11, 2018 11:04:54 GMT
Wednesday practice:
Ji Hyun Kim 2
Serena Aoki probably with a Srixon prototype driver...I can't find a pic of it on Srixon's Japan and USA websites
Chae Young Yoon
Erika Hara
Miyuki Takeuchi and Kana Nagai
Natsuka and Kotone Hori
Ayaka and Kyoka Matsumori
Kotono Kozuma...her non-Asian looper knows some Japanese
Erina Hara and her non-Samantha playing partner
|
|
|
Post by philknj on Jul 12, 2018 1:05:49 GMT
Early Thursday AM prep:
Kotono Kozuma
Minami Katsu and Saiki Fujita
I'm guessing this is pro-am day with models and celebrities playing
********
Watching some of the Step Up tour tonight...again, the players don't have individual caddies...their bags are being transported by motor cart. They have a cart I've never seen before...imagine standing in a 4-wheel chariot with two motorcycle handles...there's a slanted storage area for the bags directly in front of the driver.
They had an interview with Bud Sukapan, who was two shots off the lead after round one...via an interpreter, she answered questions in broken English.
Yesterday I saw the first drive of Yoshie Suzuki, who will turn 47 later this year. She wore two gloves and her swing was so slow that I could see it. Yet, she shot par-72, four shots out of the lead...any youngster finishing behind her this week should consider a new line of work.
|
|
|
Post by SoYeonFan on Jul 12, 2018 20:44:12 GMT
|
|
|
Post by 18majors on Jul 13, 2018 1:24:47 GMT
Karis, don't stop at -3 after 9 holes.
The trick of making cuts is to score pars or birdies but no bogeys.
|
|
|
Post by philknj on Jul 13, 2018 1:31:59 GMT
Karis came out firing (-3 thru 9) and trails Rie Tsuji by one shot in the early going.
The Hori sisters are in the same group...Eight Head almost won this one last year.
Haruka Morita and Miyuki Takeuchi with different solutions to a problem
|
|
|
Post by jlpgafan on Jul 13, 2018 2:17:35 GMT
both Americans, Eimi(Amy) Koga and Jennifer Hirano are playing this tournament.
|
|
|
Post by 18majors on Jul 13, 2018 11:44:26 GMT
Karis, I know you're leading after one round but the priority is to make the cut.
Keep the pedal to the metal and deliver!
|
|
|
Post by philknj on Jul 13, 2018 12:05:31 GMT
RANK PLAYER SCORE TODAY 1R 2R 3R TOTAL 1T Minami Katsu -6 -6 66 66 1T Karis Davidson -6 -6 66 66 1T Pei-Ying Tsai -6 -6 66 66 1T Seira Oki -6 -6 66 66 1T Jiyai Shin -6 -6 66 66 6 Ayako Kimura -5 -5 67 67 7T Sakura Koiwai -4 -4 68 68 7T Rie Tsuji -4 -4 68 68 7T Hee-Kyung Bae -4 -4 68 68 7T Hiroko Azuma -4 -4 68 68 7T Miki Sakai -4 -4 68 68
Minami Katsu and Rumi Yoshiba (-3)
Ritsuko Ryu (-2) and Chae Young Yoon (-2)
Ayaka Watanabe and Sakura Koiwai/Minami Katsu
Miyu Shinkai (-1)...Srixon staffers get a color-coordinated Srixon ice bag
**********
With the preliminaries out of the way, Team Samantha kicked off the giveaways and entertainment.
Kotono Kozuma (E), Minami Katsu, and Sae Yamamura (+13)
A contest is being conducted...this group of eighteen will be narrowed to twelve and then eight will be selected as new Samantha models. I think the odds are good for Numbers 2, 6 and 17.
|
|
|
Post by HappyFan on Jul 13, 2018 16:20:14 GMT
The modeling contest is such a weird thing to have at a golf tournament...
|
|
|
Post by IceCat on Jul 13, 2018 16:41:04 GMT
The modeling contest is such a weird thing to have at a golf tournament... Well as they say, when the cat's away...
(The commissioner is playing the US Senior Women's Open this week)Kevin
|
|
|
Post by philknj on Jul 13, 2018 22:26:41 GMT
All 18 "contestants" in a nutshell:
***********
Excellent LIVE video of the 1st hole and driving range for Round Two...scheduled to finish at 9:15 PM EST:
***********
The first groups went out at 7 AM and it was already 80F...will reach a high of 94F...get the ice bags ready
***********
Karis caught a break by NOT being grouped with JY Shin, which would be unsettling if The Final Round Queen kicked it into high gear a day early. Ditto for Pei Ying Tsai, who is also looking for her first win.
***********
Saiki Fujita stuffed it close at the par-4 1st for an easy birdie
|
|