Torakichi Nakamura

Japanese: 中村寅吉 - なかむらとらきち

Professional golfer. Born in Kanagawa Prefecture. Became a caddy at age 15, and debuted as a professional golfer at age 20 in 1935. Won her first Japan Open Golf Championship in 1950 (won the championship three times in total, and won the Japan Professional Golf Championship four times). Nakamura's name became known at the Canada Cup (now the World Cup) held in Japan in 1957. She won the team tournament with Koichi Ono against strong players such as Sam Snead of the United States, and also won the individual tournament, sparking a golf boom in Japan. Despite her small 158cm frame, she made a name for herself with her putting and small skills, and became a pioneer in the Japanese professional golf world. In 1974, she became the first president of the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Japan. She is also known for training Hisako Higuchi (who won 72 times, the most times in the history of Japanese women's golf), who was affectionately known as "Tora-san" and later became the president of the association.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

プロゴルファー。神奈川県生れ。15歳でキャディーとなり，1935年に20歳でプロゴルファーとしてデビュー。1950年に日本オープンゴルフ選手権で初優勝（同選手権を通算３回制覇。日本プロゴルフ選手権を４回制覇）。中村の名前が知れ渡ったのは，1957年に日本で開催されたカナダカップ（現，ワールドカップ）である。アメリカのサム・スニードらの強豪を相手に小野光一と組んだ団体戦で優勝，個人戦でも優勝するという快挙を達成し，日本にゴルフブームを巻き起こした。158cmの小さな体ながら，パッティングや小技で一時代を築き，日本プロゴルフ界の草分け的存在となった。1974年には日本女子プロゴルフ協会の初代会長に就任。〈寅さん〉の愛称で親しまれ，のちに同協会の会長となった樋口久子（日本女子歴代最多の72回の優勝を誇る）を育てたことでも知られる。

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