Isao Katsumata

Isao Katsumata (勝俣功) is a Japanese professional golfer.

Early in his career Katsumata was associated with Daihakone Country Club.

In November 1961, he played the Japan Open Golf Championship at Takanodai Country Club in Yokodomachi, Chiba, Japan.

Katsumata finished the tournament at 289 (+1) to tie for the clubhouse lead.

Kenji Hosoishi and Taiwan's Chen Ching-Po had birdie putts on the last hole to take the solo lead but missed.

Katsumata entered a five-way playoff with Hosoishi, Chen, Taiwan's Hsieh Yung-yo, and countryman Koichi Ono.

A sudden-death playoff was played in "semi-darkness." Katsumata, Hosoishi, and Ono outlasted the Taiwanese players on the first two playoff holes.

On the third hole, however, Hosoishi made a par-4 to win.

Ono and Katsumata finished in second place.

In March 1962, he played the Yomiuri International on the Far East Circuit.

The event was held at Kawasaski Country Club in Tokyo, Japan.

Katsumata opened with a three-under-par 69 to take one-stroke lead over Al Balding and Haruyoshi Kobari.

He broke Gary Player's course record.

However, in the second round "fell apart" with a 77 (+5).

In 1963, Katsumata intended to play extensively on the Far East Circuit again.

He intended to play the Malayan Open and Singapore Open.

He was considered one of the Japanese favorites at the Singapore Open.

In 1964 he played the Far East Circuit.

He had much success over the course of the season.

In late February he began play at the Philippine Open.

The event was held at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Manila, Philippines.

Katsumata opened with even-par rounds of 72 to put him in a tie for fourth place with Doug Sanders, four back of leader Bob Charles.

So far Katsumata had outplayed a number of notable players including Peter Thomson, Gene Littler, and Mike Souchak.

In the third round he shot a 73 (+1).

Despite the higher score he moved into a tie for third place with Sanders and Thomson, though now six strokes behind leader Charles.

In the final round, however, leader Charles played poorly opening doors to the field.

Katsumata was unable to take advantage, though, shooting a 74 (+2) to finish in a tie for sixth place.

The following week the played the Capitol Hills Open, also in the Philippines.

After three rounds he was again in contention, this time at 216, five back of leaders Thomson and Tomoo Ishii.

Later in the year, in August, he was chosen as an alternate for Japan's 1964 Canada Cup team.

He opened with a 72 (−1) to put him in a tie for 8th place with Frank Phillips, three back of the lead.

In the second round he shot a 74 (+1) but against "heavy rains" this was among the better rounds of the day.

He moved into a tie for third place, one back of leaders Ralph Moffitt and Brian Huggett.

In the third round he shot a 75 (+2) but still remained in contention, four back of leader Huggett.

He again played poorly in the final round, however, shooting a 75 to finish in a tie for 10th.

The following week he played the Singapore Open.

In the final round he again played poorly, however, shooting a 77 (+4) to fall into a tie for 18th place.

He dropped into a tie for 10th place, six back of leader Peter Thomson.

In the third round he shot an even-par 72 to move up into a tie for seventh.

However, he was not near the lead as the tournament concluded.