Hisako "Chako" Higuchi (, born 13 October 1945 in Kawagoe, Saitama) is a Japanese professional golfer.
Higuchi studied golf from Torakichi Nakamura, a member of Japan's winning team at the 1957 World Cup of Golf. She turned pro in 1967 and went on to win 69 titles on the LPGA of Japan Tour.
Higuchi won the LPGA Championship on 12 June 1977,Higuchi takes Classic making her the first Asian-born player to win a major championship for either men or women. (No Asian-born player would win a men's major until Yang Yong-eun won the 2009 PGA Championship.) She was 31 when she won her LPGA Championship. Alongside Ayako Okamoto, she dominated the 1970s and 1980s in Japanese women's golf.
Higuchi also won the Colgate European Open on the LPGA Tour and the Wills Australian Ladies Open on the ALPG Tour.
Higuchi became president of the LPGA of Japan Tour in 1996. In 2003, she became the first Japanese golfer to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.4 Japanese in the World Golf Hall of Fame / Golf GlobalWho's who: Chako Higuchi
Professional wins (73) LPGA of Japan Tour wins (69) 1968 (2) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship 1969 (2) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship 1970 (3) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship, JGP Ladies Open 1971 (4) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship, JGP Ladies Open, Tokai Classic 1972 (5) Japan LPGA Championship, JPGA Asahi Kokusai Tournament, JGP Ladies Open, Tokai Classic, Mizuno Golf 1973 (7) Japan LPGA Championship, World Ladies, JGP Ladies Open, La Coste Cup Japan vs. U.S., Matsushima Ladies Open, Tokai Classic, Mizuno Golf 1974 (8) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship, World Ladies, LPGA Japan Classic, Chikuma Kogen Ladies Open, Tokyo Charity Classic, Sunster Ladies Match, Mizuno Golf 1975 (1) Tokai Classic 1976 (5) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship, Sanpo Champions, Miyagi TV Cup Ladies Open Golf Tournament, Tokai Classic 1977 (3) Japan Women's Open, Japan LPGA Championship, Tokai Classic 1978 (3) Junon Ladies Open, Shinkoh Classic LPGA Tournament, Japan LPGA East vs. West 1979 (5) Fuji Heigen Ladies Open, Shinkoh Classic LPGA Tournament, Japan LPGA East vs. West, Hokuriku Queens Golf Cup, Toyotomi Ladies 1980 (3) Japan Women's Open, KBS Kyoto Ladies Golf Tournament, Tokai Classic 1981 (3) Okinawa Makiminato Auto Ladies Tournament, Tokushima Tsukinomiya Ladies Open Golf Tournament, Pioneer Cup 1982 (2) Hokuriku Queens Golf Cup, Kumamoto Cyuoh Ladies 1983 (5) Kibun Ladies Classic, Paris Ladies Classic, Japan LPGA East vs. West, LPGA Japan vs. U.S., Daioh Seishi Elleair Ladies Open Golf Tournament 1984 (2) Kumamoto Cyuoh Ladies, Kibun Ladies Classic 1985 (1) Chukyo TV-Bridgestone Ladies Open 1986 (2) Fujitsu Ladies, Tsumura-Itsuki Classic 1987 (1) Yamaha Cup Ladies Open 1990 (2) an Queens, Kohsaido Asahi Golf Cup
LPGA Tour wins (2) LegendLPGA Tour major championships (1)Other LPGA Tour (1)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up17 Aug 1976Colgate European Open−12 (68-74-68-74=284)6 strokes Sandra Palmer Kathy Whitworth212 Jun 1977LPGA Championship−9 (71-67-72-69=279)3 strokes Pat Bradley Sandra Post Judy Rankin
LPGA Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult11979Women's Kemper Open Donna Caponi JoAnne Carner Nancy Lopez Jan StephensonCarner won with par on second extra holeCaponi, Lopez, and Stephenson eliminated by par on first hole
ALPG Tour wins (1) 1974 Wills Australian Ladies Open
Other wins (1) 1983 Sports Nippon Team Match
Major championships Wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunners-up 1977 LPGA Championship −9 (71-67-72-69=279) 3 strokes Pat Bradley, Sandra Post, Judy Rankin
References
External links
Chako Higuchi bio at golfcompendium.com