Joe Ozaki
Name:
Naomichi "Joe" OzakiCountry:
JapanBorn:
May 18, 1956 in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.Original/Home Club:
Occupation:
Professional golferTurned Pro:
1977Presidents Cup player (1998). Total professional wins (38), including Japan Tour (32) and Japan Snr Tour (2). Japan Tour leading money winner (1991, '99).
Joe Ozaki is a member of Japan's most famous golfing family, with older brothers Masashi 'Jumbo' Ozaki and Tateo 'Jet' Ozaki also prolific winners on the Japan Tour. With 32 wins, Joe is the fourth most prolific winner on the Japan Tour to date, behind his brother Jumbo Ozaki (94 wins) and contemporaries Isao Aoki (51 wins) and Tommy Nakajima (48).
Japan
x
Played as the Tsuruya Open (April 21-24; Japan Tour event). Second-placed Ryoken Kawagishi (Jpn) and Paul Sheehan (Aus) finished 3 shots behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn), who won this event for the second time. [Yamanohara course, Yamanohara GC, Hyogo, Jpn].
Japan
x
Played as The Crowns - International Invitation Golf (Apr 28-May 1; Japan Tr event; aka the Chunichi Crowns). 48-year-old Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) beat Steven Conran (Aus) in a playoff, to record the last of his 32 Japan Tour wins. [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].
Japan
Bridgestone
Played as the Bridgestone Open (Oct 23-26; Japan Tr event). 47-year-old Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) beat Paul Sheehan (Aus) with a birdie at the second playoff hole, to record his 30th Japan Tour win. [Sodegaura course, Sodegaura CC, Chiba, Jpn].
Japan
JGA
Played as the Japan Open (Oct 12-15; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Keng-chi Lin (Taiw) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [Takanodai CC, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture].
Japan
x
Played as the Tsuruya Open (April 15-18; Japan Tour event). Second-placed Toru Suzuki (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [Yamanohara course, Yamanohara GC, Hyogo, Jpn; at the time known as Sports Shinko CC].
Japan
JGA
Played as the Japan Open (Sept 30-Oct 3; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Kazuhiko Hosokawa (Jpn) and Nobumitsu Yuhara (Jpn) finished finished 2 shots behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [New course, Otaru CC, Otaru, Hokkaido, Jpn].
Japan
PGA of Japan
Played as the Japan PGA Championship (May 13-16; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind his younger brother Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). One shot further back was Tateo "Jet" Ozaki (Jpn), the middle of the three golfing brothers. [GC Twin Fields, Komatsu, Ishikawa, Jpn].
Awards
Japan Tr
Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) won his second Japan Golf Tour Money List, with 1999 season earnings of Yn137,641,796. Kazuhiko Hosokawa (Jpn) was second with Yn129,058,283; Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) was third with Yn114,958,525. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events, golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA), and WGC events (except WGC team events).
Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Toshimitsu Izawa (Jpn) was second with 69.86; Kazuhiko Hosokawa (Jpn) was third with 69.99.
Japan
Philip Morris
Played as the Philip Morris Championship (Oct 24-27; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn), David Ishii (USA) and Russ Cochran (USA) finished 4 shots behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [ABC GC, Kato, Hyogo, Japan].
Japan
Lark
Played as the Lark Cup (Oct 29-Nov 1; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind his younger brother Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [ABC GC, Kato, Hyogo, Japan].
Japan
Hitachi
Played as the Golf Nippon Series Hitachi Cup (Dec 5-8; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Nobumitsu Yuhara (Jpn) finished 8 shots behind defending champion Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo, Japan].
Awards
Japan Tr
Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) won the Japan Golf Tour 1991 Money List, with earnings of Yn119,507,974. Roger McKay (Aus) was second with Yn113,137,135; Tommy Nakajima (Jpn) was third with Yn111,639,213. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).
Japan
Casio
Played as the Casio World Open (Nov 28-Dec 1; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Hajime Meshiai (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [Kaimon course, Ibusuki GC, Ibusuki, Kagoshima, Japan].
Japan
Hitachi
Played as the Golf Nippon Series Hitachi Cup (Nov 28-Dec 2; Japanese major ch'ship). Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn) beat Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima (Jpn) in a playoff. [Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo].
Japan
Hitachi
Played as the Golf Nippon Series Hitachi Cup (Nov 30-Dec 4; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed and defending champion Isao Aoki (Jpn) finished 5 shots behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn). [Tokyo Yomiuri CC, Inagi, nr Tokyo].
Japan
Pepsi
Played as the Pepsi Ube Open (May 21-24). Second-placed Fujio Kobayashi (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (Jpn), who recorded his fifth Japan Tour win. [Mannennike North course, Ube 72 CC, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan].
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