The Japan Challenge Tour is a series of developmental golf tournaments run by the Japan Golf Tour Organization. It has been in operation since 1985.
Current season, competition or edition: 2024 Japan Challenge Tour | |
| Formerly | AbemaTV Tour Abema Tour |
|---|---|
| Sport | Golf |
| Founded | 1985 |
| First season | 1985 |
| Countries | Based in Japan |
| Most titles | Tournament wins: Gohei Sato (5) Masamichi Uehira (5) |
| Related competitions | Japan Golf Tour |
In 2023, the schedule featured 12 tournaments, with prize funds of mostly ¥15,000,000.[1] This is about a tenth of the level of prize money per event on offer on the main Japan Golf Tour, with the main tour also having a longer season.
In January 2018, the tour signed a sponsor title agreement with AbemaTV, being renamed as the AbemaTV Tour for the 2018 season onwards.[2] The agreement lasted until the end of the 2024 season.[3]
In July 2018, it was also announced that the tour would be included into the Official World Golf Ranking starting in 2019, with the winner receiving a minimum of 4 points for a 54-hole event.[4]
The top 20 players earn entry into the Japan Golf Tour.[5]
Money list winners
edit| Season | Winner | Prize money (¥) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Taisei Yamada |
5,259,789 |
| 2023 | Tatsunori Shogenji |
11,253,106 |
| 2022 | Yujiro Ohori |
7,798,551 |
| 2020–21 | Ryo Hisatsune |
10,922,467 |
| 2019 | Yoshikazu Haku |
6,797,444 |
| 2018 | Taihei Sato |
7,256,163 |
| 2017 | Tomoharu Otsuki |
3,787,591 |
| 2016 | Yoshinobu Tsukada |
5,509,115 |
| 2015 | Yu Morimoto |
4,479,531 |
| 2014 | Shugo Imahira |
7,444,288 |
| 2013 |  Kwon Ki-taek |
5,326,885 |
| 2012 | Yuki Koko |
4,607,237 |
| 2011 | Tatsunori Nukaga |
5,846,275 |
| 2010 |  Dinesh Chand |
4,780,625 |
| 2009 |  Chris Campbell |
6,136,154 |
| 2008 | Masamichi Uehira |
6,329,033 |
| 2007 | Michio Matsumura |
6,685,183 |
| 2006 | Takaki Ono |
7,710,069 |
| 2005 | Shoichi Ideguchi |
5,070,263 |
| 2004 | Yoshiaki Kimura |
4,199,650 |
| 2003 | Masamichi Uehira |
3,082,833 |
| 2002 | Tatsuhiko Ichihara |
4,124,935 |
| 2001 |  Hur Suk-ho |
5,150,264 |
| 2000 | Masanori Kobayashi |
3,851,250 |
| 1999 | Kosaku Makisaka |
3,461,294 |
| 1998 | No information known | |
| 1997 | ||
| 1996 | ||
| 1995 | ||
| 1994 | ||
| 1993 | ||
| 1992 | ||
| 1991 | ||
| 1990 | ||
| 1989 | ||
| 1988 | ||
| 1987 | ||
| 1986 | ||
| 1985 | ||
References
edit- ^ "2023 Challenge Schedule". Japan Golf Tour Organization. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ "ス 「AbemaTV」がJGTO主催「チャレンジトーナメント」との年間特別スポンサー契約を締結 現「チャレンジトーナメント」から「AbemaTVツアー」へ名称を変更" ["AbemaTV" signs annual special sponsorship agreement with "Challenge Tournament" sponsored by JGTO Changed name from "Challenge Tournament" to "AbemaTV Tour"] (in Japanese). Abema. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Abemaツアー７年間の歴史に幕。男子ツアーに様々な変革と刺激を注入した功績に感謝" [The Abema Tour has come to an end over its seven-year history. Thanked for injecting a variety of transformations and inspirations into the men's tour] (in Japanese). Japan Golf Tour Organization. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Board Announcement". Official World Golf Ranking. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
The Abema TV Tour will be introduced to the OWGR at minimum points levels of 4 first place points for its tournaments that are played over 54 holes.
- ^ "Abema Tour 2022 season tees off". Japan Golf Tour Organization. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
Players who finish inside the top-20 on the money list will earn their main JGTO cards in 2023.