Kazuma Kobori

Kazuma Kobori (born 25 October 2001) is a New Zealand professional golfer. He won the 2019 New Zealand PGA Championship as an amateur, as well as the individual title at the 2023 Eisenhower Trophy.

Early life In 2001, Kobori was born in Karuizawa, Japan. He moved to Canterbury, New Zealand, with his family when he was six.

Kobori was educated at Rangiora High School.

Amateur career In 2019, Kobori was runner-up at the Australian Boys' Amateur. He won the SEC NZ PGA Championship on the PGA Tour of Australasia and was runner-up at the Carrus Open on the Charles Tour.

In 2023, Kobori cemented his position as New Zealand's top male amateur golfer. He won the Australian Amateur two strokes ahead of Arron Edwards-Hill of England. He also won the Western Amateur at North Shore Country Club near Chicago, an Elite Amateur Series championship, and captured the individual honors at the Eisenhower Trophy in Abu Dhabi. He was only the second New Zealander to win the individual title following Phil Tataurangi in 1992. He claimed an early lead at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and ultimately finished 6th.

Kobori started in five events on the 2023 PGA Tour of Australasia as an amateur and recorded three top-10s, including a tie for 6th at the New Zealand Open. He was awarded the Bledisloe Cup as the leading amateur. He turned professional after finishing sixth at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Melbourne.

Professional career In November 2023, Kobori made his professional debut at the Queensland PGA Championship on the PGA Tour of Australasia where he finished in a tie for 9th, two strokes behind winner Phoenix Campbell. At the start of 2024, Kobori won three consecutive WebEx Players Series tournaments, claiming the Order of Merit, as well as being awarded with Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honours.

Personal life His older sister, Momoka, is also a golfer.

Amateur wins 2017 Boys Championship of Victoria 2018 Southland 54 Hole Strokeplay Championship, Boys Championship of Victoria 2019 Canterbury Men's Stroke Play Championship, South Island Stroke Play Championship, 2021 Southland 54 Hole Strokeplay Championship, Otago Strokeplay Championship, South Island Stroke Play Championship 2022 Otago Strokeplay Championship, Canterbury Stroke Play, Muriwai Open 2023 Australian Amateur, Western Amateur, Eisenhower Trophy (individual medalist)

Source:

Professional wins (5) PGA Tour of Australasia wins (4)

Charles Tour wins (1)

Results in major championships

CUT = missed the halfway cut

Team appearances Amateur Nomura Cup (representing New Zealand): 2022 Eisenhower Trophy (representing New Zealand): 2022, 2023