Isao Aoki will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla., marking the first time for a male Japanese golfer to be honored there, golf sources said Thursday.
Aoki will be the second Japanese golfer in history to join the World Golf Hall of Fame since Hisako Higuchi, head of the Ladies Professional Golfers' Association of Japan, became the 98th member last May.
"I'm happy and shocked at the same time," said the 61-year-old. "I just followed my instincts and did what I wanted, so I don't think I would have been able to win this award had it not been for those who followed in my footsteps. I owe a big thank you to all who supported me."
Aoki led the Japanese tour in earnings five times and has won tournaments on the American, European and Australian circuits, including the 1978 World Match Play Championships. He finished second at the U.S. Open in 1980.
He began taking part in the U.S. Senior PGA Tour (now Champions Tour) in 1992 and so far has nine titles to his credit.
Mitsuhashi in front
KAWANISHI, Hyogo Pref. (Kyodo) Little-known Tatsuya Mitsuhashi made eight birdies en route to a superb 8-under-par 63 Thursday to top the leaderboard for the first time in his career after the first round of the Tsuruya Open.
Australia's Brendan Jones was one stroke behind on 7-under while Katsumasa Miyamoto and Shingo Katayama were among a group of six golfers another shot back.