Yonaka Hiramoto leads ISPS HANDA Summer Explosion Tournament

During the ISPS HANDA Summer Explosion Tournament held at Kusatsu Country Club, Yonaka Hiramoto took the solo lead after the completion of the first round, which had previously been suspended. Hiramoto shot a 10-under 62, featuring 10 birdies and no bogeys. Several players, including Ren Yonezawa, Takara Oshima, Taihei Sato, and Taiga Nagano, followed one stroke behind with scores of 63.

The tournament featured a record-breaking performance on the third hole, where 24 eagles were recorded in a single round, setting a new record for the most eagles on a single hole since 1985.

The event serves as a memorial tournament for Masashi Ozaki, who passed away last December. To honor him, panels of Ozaki are displayed on all 18 holes, and AI-generated messages using his recorded voice are played at each hole to encourage the players.