LYTHAM & ST. ANNES, England – Mamiko Higa is engaged to Japanese sumo wrestling star Ikioi Shoto.
Higa looked as if she were taking a lead from her fiancé Friday and putting a “nodowa” move on the field at the Ricoh Women’s British Open, until her misfire into the gorse at the 17th hole. It led to double bogey.
“Nodowa” is a sumo term for going for the throat, which Higa appeared to be doing with her birdie at the 16th; it gave her a two-shot lead.
At day’s end, that stray at 17 approach left her one shot behind Pornanong Phatlum.