Japan Golf Tour players strengthen NZ Open
- editor59343
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 13 hours ago
The New Zealand Open is set to welcome a talented contingent from the Japan Golf Tour in 2026, with many of the tour’s leading players confirmed to compete in Queenstown, further strengthening the field.
Headlining the Japanese charge is Tatsunori Shogenji, currently second on the Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit, alongside Ryuichi Oiwa, who sits fifth on the standings following a standout season.
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They will be joined by 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, Kazuki Higa, who finished tied for second, alongside fan favourite Mikumu Horikawa, who returns for an eighth consecutive New Zealand Open appearance.
Horikawa enjoyed a highly consistent 2025 campaign, recording nine top-10 finishes across the season. Another star of the future Riki Kawamoto returns for his second visit as does Taiki Yoshida, while top ten player Naoyuki Kataoka makes his first trip to New Zealand.
In total, the Japanese contingent includes a record nine players currently ranked inside the top twelve on the 2025 Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit, underlining the depth and quality of talent travelling to Queenstown.
New Zealand Open Tournament Director Michael Glading said the strength of the Japanese field reflects the tournament’s growing reputation on the global stage.
“The quality of players coming from the Japan Golf Tour this year is outstanding,” said Glading
“To have 9 of the top 12 on their Order of Merit competing in the New Zealand Open speaks volumes about the respect this tournament holds internationally. These players bring world-class talent and a competitive edge that adds enormous value to the field and the spectacle for fans.”
Leading Japan Tour professional Ren Yonezawa said the New Zealand Open is widely regarded as a must-play event on the Japan Tour calendar.
“Coming to Queenstown is an amazing opportunity. Everyone on the Japan Tour who have been to the New Zealand Open talks about it – the courses, the atmosphere, and the way the tournament is run. It’s a special event and one we all look forward to playing,” said Yonezawa, a two-time Japan Tour winner who is returning for his forth visit to Queenstown.
The full list of Japan Golf Tour entries for the 105th New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort:
Tatsunori Shogenji, Ryuichi Oiwa, Kazuki Higa, Mikumu Horikawa, Naoyuki Kataoka, Taiki Yoshida, Riki Kawamoto, Taihei Sato, Ren Yonezawa, Ryosuke Kinoshita, Suguru Shimoke, Ryo Katsumata, Yusaku Hosono, Taisei Shimizu, Hiroshi Iwata, Yuwa Kosaihira, Mikiya Akutsu, Michael Hendry, Taichi Nabetani and Rintaro Nakano.
The 2026 New Zealand Open will be held at Millbrook Resort February 26 - March 1.