Palm City, FL - Within the ever-competitive world of golf, the American Junior Golf Association provides a platform for global players to hone their skills.
At the UNIQLO Adam Scott Junior Championship, that is certainly true for two standout teenage amateurs from Japan: Yuna Araki and Minato Oshima.
Araki’s track record speaks for itself; she is seventh in the World Amateur Golf rankings, due in part to wins in the Women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs and the Japan Junior Golf Championship since 2022.
Oshima is similarly accomplished, winning the JHGA Spring Championship in March and the Japan Junior Championship in 2021. As an amateur, the 18-year-old has been ranked as high as 148th.
Invited by tournament sponsor UNIQLO at Hammock Creek Golf Club for this week’s event, both said they were excited to make tournament starts in the U.S., while also meeting PGA TOUR professional Scott.
Following the first round, Araki said there were “not too many differences” that came with playing in the U.S., but that she was excited about the idea of meeting a player like Scott.
“I’m really honored and excited about the to be able to meet him,” she said, interpreted. “I hope I get the chance to speak to him directly.”
Although Oshima had met Scott before, he shared Araki’s excitement in seeing him this week.
“I want to get some advice on the technical aspects of his game,” he said. “But my main wish is for him to remember me.”
That advice could pay dividends at a course like Hammock Creek. While both players were raring to go early in the week, they knew the challenge that awaited them after one round.
“I’ve never experienced this type of grass,” Oshima said. “So I struggled a little bit and couldn’t increase my score.”
Araki also talked about Hammock Creek’s inherent difficulties.
“Since there’s a lot of water and steep bunkers around the greens, it’s tough to determine when and when not to be aggressive.”
Regarding his week, Oshima had a simple goal.
“I’m going to try my best to win,” he said.
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