Nasa Hataoka is a Japanese professional Golfer who is one of the high-ranking names from Asia in the world of golf. The golfer made a name for herself as the youngest player as well as the first amateur to win a JLPGA major, stunning fans of the sport with her dexterity and insane talents.
After she turned professional in 2016, she Nasa Nataoka grew very fast in the sport, winning championships and reaching 7th on the World Ranking by November 2018.
Nasa Hataoka Biography
Nasa Hataoka was born in the Asian country of Japan on the 13th of January, 1999. She was also brought in and still resides in her birth country. Nasa’s name is not to be confused with the Nigerian name, Nasa (short form of Chinasa) which means ‘God answers’ as she bears no trace to the African giant. Nataoka was reportedly named after the National Aeronautics and Space Association as her parents had great hopes for the little baby girl. True to her name, the Japanese lass has grown to be a super achiever.
When 11-year-old Nasa accompanied her mother to work one day, her journey into professional golfing unexpectedly began. Her mother worked at a local golf course in Kasama of the Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan as a clerical staff. She began practicing and learning as well as watching almost all that was available on golf on television. When she discovered Ai Miyazato, the excellent Japanese golfer playing on television, she fell deeply in love with the sport and wanted to be a global player just like her.
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Nasa Hataoka’s Golfing Exploits
As a second-year student in junior high school, Nasa got her big break to hone her skills. She was selected as a student of the Hills Golf Tommy Academy. The academy was begun by Tsuneyuki Nakajima, the household Japanese golf figure popularly known as Tommy. The students were allowed to take part in several training camps in a year and learn from Tommy and other professionals. Nasa was lucky to be chosen as one of its pioneer students and she used her stay wisely by learning vastly and speedily.
Nakajima had great hopes for the young amateur, the same hope her parents and other ‘teachers’ had. On the 2nd of October 2016, Nasa achieved a great feat that confirmed their hopes were really not in vain. She made it to the final of the Japan Women’s Open Golf Championship, made a record of two bogeys and five birdies, and clinched the title. This set her up as the first amateur female to ever win an official Japanese golf championship.
Before this, Nasa had also won several games as an amateur in both 2015 and 2016. These include the following:
- The IMG Academy Junior World Championship in 2015 & 2016.
- The Kanto Junior Championship in 2015.
- The Faldo Series Asia Japan Championship in 2015.
- The Faldo Series Asia Grand Final in 2016.
- The Kanto Amateur Championship in 2016.
- The Ciputra World Junior Championship in 2016.
As an amateur, the golfer made a number of team appearances, representing Asia in 2006 in the Patsy Hankins Trophy and Japan in 2016 in the Espirito Santo Trophy. She also represented Japan in the 2018 International Crown.
The year 2017 presented more wins for Nasa even as she turned professional. She participated in the Miyagi TV Cup Dunlop Ladies Open Golf Tournament, an event under the JLPGA, and emerged victorious. She also retained the Japan Women’s Open Golf Championship title.
By the year 2018, golf lovers had gotten used to seeing Nasa on their T.V. screens and on the golf course. She once again gave her best and bagged more titles. She won the Toto Japan Classic and the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. In the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, she, however, lost to Park Sung-Hyun in. Playoff. She came 10th (a tied position) at the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open.
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On March 31, 2019, Nana Hataoka won the Kia Classic at Aviara, closing with a 5-under-par 67 to clinch a three-stroke victory. Apparently, Nasa Hataoka is living her dreams of being a global player.
Who Are Her Parents?
Nasa Hataoka’s parents have been very supportive of her dreams from a tender age. Her mom, Hiromi is credited with being her caddie for a very long time, accompanying her to several events and championships. Her father, a Japanese named Jinichi, has given her massive support as well despite his little knowledge of the sports.
It can be rightly said that Nasa is blessed with a beautiful set of parents, who have believed in her even from birth. Giving her the name NASA with the intentions attached is no doubt one very important part of her success story.
Nasa Hataoka’s Earnings and Net Worth
Nasa Hataoka has apparently raked in quite a lot of money during her career so far. Her prize money as the winner of the Toto Japan Classic was $225,000. Hataoka’s total earnings as recorded by LPGA are more than $3 million at the moment. it is quite certain that this golfer’s earnings will increase in the coming years.
Nasa Hataoka’s net worth is above $3 million at the moment. We can however safely assume that she should be worth a lot and that her net worth will increase in no time.
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