The LPGA Tour's "T-POINT Ladies Golf Tournament" will be held at Kagoshima Takamaki CC from March 22nd to 24th!

2013.03.18 Press Releases
T-POINT Japan Co., Ltd.

—The first ever full-scale internet live broadcast of the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Tour will be held! Featuring Sakura Yokomine from Kagoshima, past champions Rui Kitada and Ji-Hee Lee, and many amateur players!—

T Point Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Muneaki Masuda; hereinafter referred to as "TPJ"), which operates "T-POINT," Japan's largest common point service, will hold the "T-POINT Ladies Golf Tournament," a women's professional golf tour sanctioned by the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), which has been held since 2010, for three days from Friday, March 22nd to Sunday, March 24th at Kagoshima Takamaki Country Club in Kagoshima.

The venue for this tournament, "Kagoshima Takamaki Country Club," is one of Kagoshima's most prestigious courses, designed in 1992 by golf course architect Hisamitsu Onishi.

The participating players include local Kagoshima native Sakura Yokomine, past champions Rui Kitada and Ji-Hee Lee, and other top professionals, as well as many talented young amateur golfers such as Minami Katsu, a junior high school student who won the Kyushu Women's Championship last May, becoming the youngest winner in the tournament's history. Furthermore, since its inception, this tournament has supported the activities of junior golfers, and we have launched "T-POINT Donations," which allows you to donate using T-POINT to the "LPGA Junior Development Fund," established by the LPGA with the aim of contributing to the healthy development of young people through golf, nurturing the next generation of golfers, and increasing the number of golf enthusiasts.

TPJ will be providing the first-ever full-scale internet live broadcast of the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Tour, totaling 14 hours: approximately 8.5 hours on the first day and approximately 5.5 hours on the second day. There is a lot of information that can be broadcast from the venue during a golf tournament, and the idea for this "live online broadcast" project began with the thought that "this could be beneficial for expanding the golf fan base and for the players and the golf world." Until now, the LPGA Tour had only permitted online streaming of the practice area, but for this tournament, after following a newly established procedure, online streaming of the main tournament, including the play itself, will be officially permitted and will be realized.

The online broadcast will feature commentary from four golf commentators: Hiroshi Yakushiji, Takashi Uesugi, professional golf coach Manabu Nakai, and professional female golfer Mai Arai. In addition to showcasing the play of many players, providing information on players' gear, comparing tee shot trajectories, reporting on practice rounds, commentary from guest players, and linking with Twitter, we plan to include plenty of "immersive content" that will give viewers a real sense of being there.

Since 2010, TPJ has aimed to make T-POINT a familiar point service rooted in local communities and daily life by holding the "T-POINT Ladies Golf Tournament" in Kagoshima, a city with strong ties to the birth of T-POINT. Currently, approximately one in two people in Kagoshima Prefecture owns a T-CARD, and it has grown into a point service that is familiar to many customers.

In light of the positive results we've seen in Kagoshima regarding T-POINT awareness, T-CARD usage, and T-Membership rates, we've decided to explore new regional locations for the "T-POINT Ladies Golf Tournament" starting next year.

This tournament, the final one to be held in Kagoshima, will be themed "Gratitude to Kagoshima," and we aim to create an unforgettable experience for everyone attending, watching, and the athletes who will be giving their best performances.

"T-POINT Ladies Golf Tournament" Tournament Overview

■Name: T-POINT Ladies Golf Tournament
■Organizers: T Point Japan Co., Ltd., Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd.
■ Officially sanctioned by: The Ladies Professional Golf Association of Japan (LPGA)
■Sponsors: Kagoshima Prefecture, Kagoshima City, Aira City, Misumi Co., Ltd., Minami-Nippon Shimbun, Kagoshima Broadcasting Co., Ltd., Kyushu Golf Federation, Kagoshima Prefectural Golf Association
■Operational support: Kagoshima Takamaki Country Club, Hakuhodo Inc., Hakuhodo DY Media Partners Inc., Hakuhodo DY Sports Marketing Inc.
■Competition Management: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
■Venue: Kagoshima Takamaki Country Club
2489-1 Hisasue, Gamou-cho, Aira City, Kagoshima Prefecture
TEL 0995-52-1603 (main) FAX 0995-52-0121
■Event Dates: March 19, 2013 (Tuesday) - Designated practice day and pre-event party
Pro-Am Tournament, Wednesday, March 20th
March 21st (Thursday) Designated practice day
March 22nd (Friday) Qualifying Round (Day 1)
_ March 23rd (Saturday) Qualifying Round (Day 2)
_ March 24th (Sunday) Final Round (Final Day)
■Total prize money: 70 million yen; Winner = 12.6 million yen
■Participating players: 108 people
■Competition format: 54-hole stroke play
(1) The first and second days, totaling 36 holes, will serve as the qualifying round, with the top 50 players (including ties) qualifying for the final round.
(2) If there is a tie for first place after 54 holes, a sudden-death playoff will be held on a hole designated by the competition committee on the same day to determine the winner.
■Competition Rules: The 2013 JGA Golf Rules, the 2013 LPGA Competition Conditions and Local Rules will apply.

List of players scheduled to participate in the "T-POINT Ladies Golf Tournament"

■Professional players:
Kaori Aoyama, Hiroko Higashi, Shi Anai, Yayoi Shinzaki, Sungju Ahn, Jimin Lee, Ji-hee Lee, Na-ri Lee, Bo-mi Lee, Akane Iijima, Mihoko Iseri, Miwa Ichiki, Yuki Ichinose, Nozomi Inoue, Kyungmin Lim, Yun-jie Wei, Miki Uehara, O. Sataya, Kaori Oe, Satsuki Oshiro, Nachiyo Otani, Shiho Oyama, Saki Okamura, Manami Ogawa, Risa Ogusu, Junko Omote, Hisashi Kaneda Yoshiko, Kamata Hiromi, Kang Soo-yeon, Kang Yeo-jin, Kikuchi Erika, Kitada Rui, Kido Ai, Kim So-hee, Kim Nari, Kimura Maki, Kuwahara Erika, Kotake Rino, Saeki Miki, Saito Airi, Saito Yuko, Sakai Chie, Sakai Miki, Sakurai Yuki, Sato Yasuko, J.J. Hong, J. Speechley, Shimokawa Megumi, Jang Eun-bi, Shiroma Eri, Jeon Mi-jeong, Shin Hyun-ju, Shinsakaue Yuko, Song Boba, Takashima Sayuri, Takemura Makoto, Tani Hiroe, Tammy Durdin, Tsuji Rie, Tsujimura Asuka, Tsunekawa Tomoe, Teresa Lu, Toyonaga Shiho, Na Dae, Nagai Natsu, Nakajima Mayumi, Nakamura Kaori, Nakayama Mina, Narita Misuzu, Nishi Mikiko, Nomura Harukyo, Hattori Mayu, Baba Yukari, Hara Erina, Pan Yenhong, Higa Mamiko, Hwang Ah-reum, Phoebe Yao, Hiroko Fukushima, Mami Fukuda, Yuko Fukuda, Eri Fukuyama, Yuki Fujita, Asako Fujimoto, Yuri Fudo, Natsuka Hori, Yuko Mitsuka, Yui Mukaiyama, Rie Murata, Hiromi Mogi, Rikako Morita, Shinobu Moromizato, Kumi Yamashita, Sae Yamamura, Kaori Yamamoto, Young Kim, Yu Pe-ling, Sakura Yokomine, Rui Yokomine, Yumiko Yoshida, Li Esdo, Ritsuko Kasa, Maiko Wakabayashi, Sayaka Watanabe

■Amateur players:
Minami Katsu, Kana Nagai, Erina Nakanishi, Mayu Hosaka
*Participating players are subject to change.
*Listed in alphabetical order (Japanese syllabary), titles omitted.

"T-POINT Ladies Golf Tournament" TV Broadcast Schedule

■TV Asahi Network (24 stations):
March 23rd (Sat) Qualifying Round (Day 2) 16:30 - 17:25
March 24th (Sunday) Final Round (Final Day) 16:00 - 17:25
■Sky-A:
Saturday, March 23rd: Qualifying Round (Day 2) 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Sunday, March 24th - Final Round (Final Day) - 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Overview of the internet live broadcast for the "T-POINT Ladies Golf Tournament"

■ Broadcast date and time:
Friday, March 22nd: Qualifying Round (Day 1) 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM (tentative)
Saturday, March 23rd: Qualifying Round (Day 2) 7:30 AM - 1:00 PM (tentative)
*Times may change depending on weather conditions and the progress of the competition.
*If the event is cancelled, the content will be changed.
■Internet live streaming page: http://www.tpointladies.tv/
■ How to watch: PC, smartphone
■Broadcast content:
Friday, March 22nd: Practice range, Hole 1 (PAR 5), Hole 12 (PAR 3), Hole 18 (PAR 4)
Saturday, March 23rd: Practice range, Hole 1 (PAR 5), Hole 12 (PAR 3)
(1) Real-time display of players' ball trajectories using the ball trajectory display system "Protracer"
(2) Broadcasting the players' expressions, swings, etc., along with slow-motion footage.
(3) Capture every tense moment on camera and live stream it.
(4) You can also view images of players you missed later.
(5) We will deliver a wealth of content, including player interviews, competition director interviews, greenkeeper interviews, gear coverage, practice round coverage, Twitter integration, golf quiz, and more.
■Commentary by: Golf caster Hiroshi Yakushiji, golf journalist Takashi Uesugi, professional coach Manabu Nakai, and professional female golfer Mai Arai

Overview of the "LPGA Junior Development Fund" through T-POINT donations

■ Donation acceptance period: December 20, 2012 - November 30, 2013
■ How to donate: Use the "T-POINT Donation" website on your PC, mobile phone, or smartphone. http://tsite.jp/d/ You can donate your T-POINT to the LPGA Junior Development Fund, where 1 T-POINT is equivalent to 1 yen.
■ Recipient organization: Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA)
■ Use of Donations: The donations will be used for a wide range of junior development activities, including junior lessons held at LPGA Tour (tournament) venues, parent-child lessons that teach basic techniques as well as etiquette and manners, and the creation of etiquette and manners awareness booklets for children and their guardians that cover everything from the knowledge necessary for golf to knowledge about the healthy development of children.
*A T-ID (free registration) is required to participate in T-POINT donations.
*T-POINT donations can be made in increments of 1 point, with a minimum donation of 1 point.
* Donations will be collected on behalf of Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd.
*Donations from customers cannot be treated as tax-deductible donations.

Inquiries regarding this matter
T Point Japan Co., Ltd.
Public Relations Department TEL: 03-6800-4464