Kenichi Kuboya (, born 11 March 1972) is a Japanese professional golfer.
Career Kuboya won four events on the Japan Golf Tour between 1997 and 2002, picking up two wins in each of those seasons.
Both of Kuboya's wins on the Japan Golf Tour in 2002 came in playoffs against seasoned campaigners. He beat Shingo Katayama in extra holes at the Japan PGA Championship and another win against former Open champion Todd Hamilton at the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup. This remains the biggest win of his career.
Kuboya had a brief stint on the PGA Tour where he played a full season in 2003. His best finish of the year was a T13 at the 84 Lumber Classic of Pennsylvania and he was not able to keep his card. He would go back to play on the Japan Golf Tour in 2004, where he currently plays.
Kuboya played in his first major championship in 2002 at The Open Championship, where he made the cut, but did not contend on the weekend. His next major was the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry in Scotland. He finished his first round birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie to finish in a tie for second. He would finish the tournament tied for 27th.
Kuboya won his fifth Japan Golf Tour title at the 2011 Canon Open, nine years after his last win and subsequently won the 2012 Japan Open and the 2017 Panasonic Open.
Professional wins (7) Japan Golf Tour wins (7) Legend Flagship events (1) Japan majors (2) Other Japan Golf Tour (6) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up111 May 1997Fujisankei Classic–5 (68-69-73-69=279)1 stroke Yoshinori Kaneko, Masashi Ozaki214 Dec 1997Daikyo Open–21 (66-64-68-65=263)1 stroke Katsunori Kuwabara, Brian Watts319 May 2002Japan PGA Championship–9 (74-70-68-67=279)Playoff Shingo Katayama426 May 2002Munsingwear Open KSB Cup–11 (66-70-68-69=273)Playoff Yoshimitsu Fukuzawa, Todd Hamilton59 Oct 2011Canon Open–14 (68-67-70-69=274)5 strokes Brad Kennedy, Mamo Osanai, Chawalit Plaphol614 Oct 2012Japan Open Golf Championship +8 (74-73-75-70=292)1 stroke Juvic Pagunsan723 Apr 2017Panasonic Open Golf Championship1–11 (69-71-69-64=273)Playoff Katsumasa Miyamoto 1Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour
Japan Golf Tour playoff record (3–1) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result12002Japan PGA Championship Shingo KatayamaWon with birdie on second extra hole22002Munsingwear Open KSB Cup Yoshimitsu Fukuzawa, Todd HamiltonWon with birdie on fourth extra holeFukuzawa eliminated by birdie on second hole32011Japan Open Golf Championship Bae Sang-moonLost to par on first extra hole42017Panasonic Open Golf Championship Katsumasa MiyamotoWon after concession on first extra hole
Results in major championships Tournament 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013Masters TournamentU.S. OpenT68The Open ChampionshipT59T27CUTPGA Championship
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied
Results in World Golf Championships Tournament20022003200420052006200720082009201020112012Match PlayChampionship64InvitationalChampionsT69
"T" = Tied
See also 2002 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
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