Jami Thompson
Kurt is a well-known professional golfer in the United States. Kurt Shun Kitayama, his birth name, is more recognized. He is also the player with the most victories on the European Tour.
Early Life, Childhood, & Education
Kitayama (full name Kurt Shun Kitayama) was born on January 14, 1993, under the sign of Capricorn. He is also the second child of his parents, Rumiko Kitayama and Clifford Kitayama.
He appears to have an elder brother, Daniel Kitayama, who is also a golfer.
Kurt, as we all know, has an Asian appearance, and in one of the interviews, he revealed that he is of Asian descent/ethnicity. His mother, on the other hand, is Japanese.
Moving on, Kurt began playing golf when he was just five years old.
To explain, a family friend initially introduced him to golf. Following that, he frequently played games of golf at Butte Creek Country Club with his older brother.
Kurt Kitayama graduated from Chico High School. During his time, he was the Senior co-captain and starting point guard for his high school’s AAU basketball club, the Chico Blazin’ Heat.
In addition, he and fellow Chico High alumni Sterling Smith have been named the team’s high-scoring pair. He also captained his basketball team to the 2011 California Northern Section Championship.
Furthermore, Kitayama competed in the Championship games after defeating their city rival Pleasant Valley High School.
Furthermore, he switched from basketball to golf later in high school after discovering he could go further with it.
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College Career
Kurt even played at the University of Hawaii in Hilo with his brother, Daniel, as a junior in 2007–2008. After a few years of similar play, the American-born began working as a professional caddy.
Similarly, he played in the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines South Course in San Diego, California. Kurt competed at the 2009 Callaway Junior World Golf Championships the next year.
Meanwhile, he was named 2009 Player of the Year by the Junior Golf Association of Northern California.
Kurt graduated from high school in 2009 and enrolled at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. During his time there, he played for the top Division I golf program and excelled at the conclusion of his college career.
During his four years at UNLV, he was named All-American and Academic All-MW three years in a row.
Kurt’s highest amateur rating was 47th, and he won the Jackrabbit Invitational in Primm, Nevada, in both 2014 and 2015.
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Professional Career
Kitayama made his professional debut in 2015 when he joined the Web.com tour. Kurt enjoyed a couple of victories on the court throughout his early professional years.
Later in the year, he primarily competed on the Asian Tour. Kitayama won the only Asian Development Tour tournament at the time, the PGM Darulaman Championship in Malaysia.
Among his significant finishes on the tour were the New Zealand Open, the Royal Cup, the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup Golf, and the Japan Golf Tour.
During the same year, he competed on the European Tour, where he won his maiden tournament, the Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open. In addition, he competed in the European Tour Q-School and the 2019 European Tour.
Kurt won the Oman Open on the European Tour in the middle of the season in 2019. He was the European Tour’s fastest player to two victories at the time.
Following that, he competed on the PGA Tours. Kurt also went all over the world for his golf court.
Achievements
- Two European Tours (AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open and Oman Open)
- One Asian Tour (AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open)
- One Asian Development Tour (PGM Darulaman Championship)
Net Worth
Kurt Kitayama currently has a net worth of $2 million and a salary of $276,460. Kurt gains brand marketing and sponsorships in addition to his golf career revenues.
Amateur Achievements and Nickname
Kurt Kitayama was often called selfish and competitive as an amateur. He is, however, not afraid to be rough on anyone who comes his way.
“Kurt can rub people the wrong way because he’s so competitive,” said Kitayama’s former coach Kevin Wilkerson. Apart from that, Kurt has a strong belief in himself.
Kurt also acquired the strange nickname ‘The Project’ during his undergraduate days.
It had an unpleasant name back then. Kurt struggled a lot throughout his freshman year, as he disclosed the secret behind the nickname.
To put it simply, he wasn’t a good golfer and hence would just strive to improve his games. That’s when the director of golf at Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas gave him the nickname.
Personal Life
Kitayama is presently single and has never been in a relationship. In actuality, Kurt is not involved in any controversies or allegations concerning his relationships.
In truth, Kurt Kitayama prefers to keep his personal life private, thus there isn’t much information about him on his social networking sites.
Anyway, he could be more involved in his professional job right now, simply focusing on that side.
Body Measurement
Regarding his height, he stands at a height of 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs around 77 kg.
Social Media
Instagram:1.1k followers.
Twitter: 940 followers.
FAQ’s
What is Kurt Kitayama’s academic major?
Kurt Kitayama studies finance as part of his business degree.
What is Kurt Kitayama’s highest ranking to date?
Kurt Kitayama obtained the top rating in the 66th stand on January 26, 2020.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Kurt Shun Kitayama |
| Date of Birth | January 14, 1993 |
| Birth Place | Chico, California |
| Nick Name | ‘The Project’ |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Asian-American |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Age | 29 years old |
| Height | 5’7″ (1.70 meters) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Build | Athletic |
| Father’s Name | Clifford Kitayama |
| Mother’s Name | Rumiko Kitayama |
| Siblings | An older brother, Daniel Kitayama |
| Education | Chico High School University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend | None |
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