Daikin Orchid Ladies, the first game of the national women’s golf circuit in 2009, will begin on Day 4 at the Ryukyu GC (6561 yards, par 72) in Okinawa after some antics. On the 3rd, it was announced that new positive responders to the coronavirus were confirmed to the people involved in the competition. The practice round was canceled because the entrance and exit of the enclosure was prohibited and disinfection work was carried out. For the first time in the 15th tournament since last year, Hinako Shibuno (22 = Suntory) and 108 other players were forced to make final adjustments off the field. As planned, the tournament will take place with an audience for the first time in about a year and three months.

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Just before the inauguration, something happened. A person involved in the tournament tested positive on the night of the 2nd. He underwent a PCR test on February 27, and it was decided that a new test was necessary on the 28th, but was commissioned to set up the tournament on the 27 and 2, before the decision was made. On the 3rd, players, caddies and other related parties were closed and disinfection work was carried out.

The guideline stipulates that all interested parties must “enter the course after confirming the refusal”, but there was a “leak”. The tournament team held an online press conference, and tournament executive committee chair Naofumi Takenaka of Daikin Industries said, “We apologize for the concern of our fans and locals.” Hiromi Kobayashi, president of the Japan Women’s Professional Golf Association, said: “I want to prevent this from happening again.” Since it was considered that there were no close contacts in the public health center, the meaning of holding the event with a maximum of 1000 spectators starting on the 4th was “Please enter as much as possible (at the venue). opportunities (for viewers). I want to explore it. “

The players played the final practice round. Some people can’t get around the 18th hole and get to the stage. Shibuno, who was supposed to go around the inn’s 9th hole, announced a comment after the scheduled press conference was canceled. “I was surprised, but relieved that it could be done safely. I had experience of American games, but it was my first time in Japan, so I thought I should be more careful than ever.” Furthermore, he said at the hearing tournament after a long absence: “I’m glad to see you fight with all your might. I will do my best to do what is right in front of me.”[Yuichi Kato]

▽ Hina Arakaki (On-site practice and official press conference canceled) “I was very surprised, but I’m glad the match went on as scheduled. Family and local Okinawans came to see it. I want to get a lot of birdies in front of galleries and play to make them happy. “

◆ History of positive results 2 of the 1199 tests in the tournament were positive and 1 person had a problem. I received it on February 27th and had to retest on the 28th, but I was working on the course on March 27th and 2nd. Around 7pm on Day 2, the tournament side was found not to have been confirmed negative, and a positive was confirmed around 9pm. The other was positive on the 27th and was not at headquarters. The related party inspections, such as the facility, were managed in some 30 sections and eventually reported to the secretariat. Executive Committee Chairman Takenaka said: “Some of them were not (managed) thoroughly. I am very sorry.”

◆ Last season’s US women’s tour, Gaby López (Mexico) was the first player to miss the drive-on championship in late July, which resumed after a five-month break in the Corona disaster. In November, former World No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn and her sister Moriya (both from Thailand) tested positive with their sisters. Brittany Linsicum (USA), who won two majors, was positive in December. Andrea Lee (USA) was absent from the US Women’s Open in the same month, and Ayaka Watanabe was granted the right to participate.