Tokyo Golfer: 2016 Aki Cup Sponsored by Air Golf #2 Report: The World Cup at Windsor Park

2016 World Cup cast of characters

The 2016 World Cup took place yesterday at Windsor Park GC in Ibaraki and played host to the second leg of the Aki Cup sponsored by Air Golf. The World Cup event is a festive golf event that tries to have teams paired from the same country or area in a 2-person Texas Scramble format. This year, 27 golfers and 14 teams took part on a cloudy but comfortable day. And for the second straight year, Team Canada won the event.

Team Canada’s Jonathan Allen and Steve Anthony won with a score of 62 (gross 67). (Last year, Jonathan also won the World Cup with Team Canada.) This year there was, in fact, a tie for first place with Team Oil Republic--Tom Moore and John Evans--which also scored a net 62. But Team Oil's higher gross score (71) earned them second place. Both teams, however, will split the Aki Cup points with 425 points for each player. In third place, with 250 Aki Cup points each, were USA 1 members, Jason Pegg and Jack Snell.

Team US-CAN (Warren Arbuckle, left, and Marcus Kosins, second from left) and first place finishers Team Canada (Steve Anthony, second from right, and Jonathan Allen, right)

Team Canada’s winning shot may have been on their final hole (par 5, #9) where Steve Anthony hit a wedge shot to within three feet which enabled an easy birdie for the win. But Steve credits Jonathan Allen with the win, saying he played great throughout the round.

Team Singapore: Angela and Terrence Heng

Many teams dress up for the World Cup and for about the third consecutive year, Team Texas with Steve Novosel and Andy Cheek scored the winning team uniform/costume. (See if you can spot them in the group photo!)

Team Japan, Marcos Tanaka (left) and Yasu Iwatani

After two Aki Cup rounds, Steve Anthony leads with 598 points. John Evans is in second with 594 and Yasu Iwatani is third with 486.

Second place finishers Team Oil, Tom Moore (left) and John Evans (right) with organizer Steve Novosel

A big thanks is due to Steve Novosel for organizing and arranging the event—his time and effort is much appreciated. And a big cheers, too, to Paul Braganza of First Step Japan. Paul donated many of the prizes and also had to rough the team event solo because his partner made a late cancellation. Thanks also to Yano-san of Windsor Park who donated golf rounds at Windsor Park as prizes.

Aya Morohoshi (left) and Chris Hurquin of Team Frapan with Team Japan 2 Hiroko Saito (right) and Hiroe Sakai (second from right)

The next Aki Cup event, #3, takes place at Kasumidai CC in Ibaragi on Monday, October 10th. Still three spots open for the event.

Aki Cup #2: World Cup at Windsor Results