Substance & Style - Top 5 Adorable Outfits from the Japan Women's Open

Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano    © Golf Digest Online

While the majority of golf fans are certainly focused on Medinah and Ryder Cup 2012 this weekend, many of the best women golfers on earth are engaged in an epic battle on the other side of the planet at the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship, where... despite a stellar field that includes 8 of the world's top 10 players ...  the the most feared and formidable adversary appears to be the golf course itself.  Wind-buffeted fairways and dry, speedy greens have the entire field over par going into the final round on the West Course at Yokohama Country Club.

For additional details on the 2012 Japan Women's Open you'll want to head over to Mostly Harmless, where you'll find the Constructivist, always a stellar source for news, info and insights ...in English... on the Asian women's golf tours.

For my part, I'm focusing on something a bit more, shall we say...superficial: the awesome golf outfits.  You see, not only are these ladies some of the best golfers in the world, they're also some of the best dressed.

There were dozens of great looks on display during this event, however in the interest of time, here are my top five faves:

• Megumi Kido shared the lead going into the final round. Here she is in city shorts and an oxford shirt. ...on the golf course. A novel idea. ...that looks smashing.  Here's another take on the same look.  Pearly Gates

• Ai Miyazato An international superstar and currently 6th in the world, Ai Miyazato has a style that's consistently cute, but never cloying.   Paradiso 

• Ayako Uehara  This look is certainly insolite. I love the layers and the fact that they allow a short sleeved polo dress to transcend the summer season. Ayako finished solo 7th today.   Jun & Rope

• Chie Arimura  is implausibly cute... TCFW cute...to the extent that she sometimes comes perilously close to cutsey.  However the talented top 20 player looks sporty and sophisticated in this outfit. The bold plaid, navy blue and brass buttons, assure that it strikes the right chords of cuteness without edging into the anime abyss    Viva Heart 

• Na Yeon Choi  is currently No. 3 in the world and her style is right up there too. Traditional golf elements and a modern color palette are what makes this outfit my choice for No.1.  Hazzy's

Photos: Yoshimasa Nakano - © Golf Digest Online 

Cristie Kerr - 3 strokes ahead at LPGA Navistar Classic

If you were following the third round of the Navistar Classic today you probably found yourself thinking of the 2010 LPGA Championship, and the Sunday a few months ago in in Pittsford, NY, when Cristie Kerr won her second major ...by an unprecedented 12-shot margin.

That victory broke a number of records and allowed Cristie to achieve one of her life's goals: to become the number one female golfer in the world.

It's a position she's held on four different occasions this summer. She’s currently third behind second-place Jiyai Shin and Ai Miyazato and... one can be certain... more than ready to take back the top spot.

Remarkably, at one point today, Cristie got to 20-under and held a five-shot lead, but a couple of issues towards the end of the back nine shaved that lead down to 3 prompting her to remark that “Having the lead is great, but extending it is better,” a clear reference to the LPGA Championship. 

Na Yeon Choi and Katherine Hull (T2) lead an impressive group of chasers, including Se Ri Pak, Haeji Kang, Hee Young Park and Mika Miyazato (T4). The stage is set for an exciting Sunday at the LPGANavistar Classic. 

(October 7, 2010 - Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images North America)