Minami Katsu

Katsu was born in Kagoshima, Japan, in 1998. She began to play golf at the age of six under her grandfather's influence. She graduated from Nagata Middle School in Kagoshima in 2014. She was a student of Kagoshima High School.
As an amateur won the 2014 New Zealand Women's Stroke Play Championship, Japan Junior Golf Championship (girls aged 15-17 division); 2015 Japan Women's Amateur.
She is the youngest winner in the history of the LPGA of Japan Tour when she won the KKT Cup Vantelin Ladies Open as an amateur on 20 April 2014 at age 15.
2018 Notes: She won the Daio Paper Elyle Ladies Open and earned yen65,591,278 ($597,970) and was 9th on the LPGA of Japan Tour money list. She also played in her first LPGA Tour events finishing T-30th at the Toto Japan Classic.
2019 Notes: Because of her win in the Chukyo TV Bridgestone Open, she went from 54th in the Rolex Rankings into the top 50 to gain the last invite to play in the U.S. Women's Open. Was able to play in four LPGA Tour events, T-17th at the LPGA Lotte Championship, T-22nd at the U.S. Women's Open, T-35th at the AIG Women's British Open, and T-40th at the Toto Japan Classic. Played in 32 Japan LPGA Tour events making 22 cuts with 12 top-ten finishes, including two wins at the Panasonic Open Ladies Golf Tournament and the Chukyo TV Bridgestone Ladies Open. She finished 10th on the money list with earnings of Yen76,449,928 (US$562,786).
2020/21 Notes: In the double season, played in 47 Japan LPGA events making 36 cuts with 12 top-ten finishes. She won twice in 2021, Resort Trust ladies and the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship. She finished 7th on the money list with earnings of Yen127,986,540 (US$942,172). In 2020 missed the cut at the AIG Women's Open and U.S. Women's Open, in 2021 missed the cut at the U.S. Women's Open.
2022 Notes: Played in 34 JLPGA events making 28 cuts with 14 top-ten finishes. She won twice at the Rakuten Super Ladies and the Japan Women?s Open. She finished the year 4th on the JLPGA money list with earnings of Yen136,776,675 ($958,894). She was T-8th in the LPGA Toto Japan Classic. After the season she finished fifth at LPGA Q Series to earn her LPGA card for the first time for 2023.
2023 Notes: Best finish T-7th at the DIO Implant LA Open, shot 63 in the final round.

Minami Katsu 2023 Japan LPGA Record
Tournament Rank Prize Money Score Total Rounds
Daikin Orchid Ladies Golf Tournament 36T Yen804,000 +2 290 75-71-72-72
Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance 6T Yen3,250,000 -14 274 68-68-71-67
T-Point*Eneos Golf Tournament 16T Yen1,220,000 -9 207 67-71-69

Katsu has won Yen5,274,000 ($36,974) and is 95th on the JLPGA money list