Wins for Mao Saigo and Oliver Hundebøll

Mizuno’s emerging talent project ahead of schedule

Two of Mizuno’s fast-emerging young talents won their breakthrough tournaments over the weekend. At just 20 years old Mao Saigo won her first J-LPGA tournament at Daikin Orchid Ladies at Ryukyu Golf Club in Nanjo, Okinawa, Japan.  Saigo is now 37th in the ROLEX world rankings – having placed 2nd seven times over 2021 and finishing 4th in the JLPGA money list for 2021. 
Saigo played the new ST-X 220 Driver, JPX 921 FORGED iron #6-Pw and Mizuno Pro S18 wedge 50-07, 54-12 and 58-12.

Mao Saigo Daikin Orchid Ladies at Ryukyu Golf Club winning her1st JLPGA event. Pictured with ST-X 220 driver. Picture by Getty Images.

Meanwhile, on the Challenge Tour, young Danish prospect Oliver Hundebøll (22) won in South Africa. Hundebøll carded a six-under-par final round 66 to secure his maiden European Challenge Tour victory at the Mangaung Open with a 21 under par total.  Oliver now moves to fourth place on the Road to Mallorca Rankings.

Mizuno has recently moved to its tour strategy to focus on emerging talent.

When we made the decision to focus our efforts on developing younger talent – it was obviously towards a long term view.   But young players now are generally so much better prepared to win than they were 20 years ago.  We’ll stay patient and keep building towards bigger goals somewhere down the line – but these ahead of schedule wins are so much fun.

CHRIS VOSHALL

 

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