MIKI, Hyogo (Kyodo) — Tohoku Fukushi University senior Taiga Semikawa overcame a triple bogey in the final round to win the Japan Open by two strokes Sunday, making him the major tournament’s first amateur champion in 95 years.
Semikawa, whose given name Taiga was inspired by Tiger Woods, sealed the win by putting in for par from off the 18th green as Kazuki Higa’s late charge came up short at Sanko Golf Club’s par-70 Japan Course in Miki, Hyogo Prefecture.
The 21-year-old Semikawa had a six-shot lead after three rounds and extended it with a birdie-birdie start on the final day.
But he lost momentum, dropping a shot on the fifth hole and a triple-bogey on the ninth.
Semikawa, who belongs to the same university golf team that once featured current US PGA stalwart Hideki Matsuyama, saw his lead cut to two when he bogeyed the 17th on his way to a 3-over 73 and a 10-under 270 total.
“I’m delighted to win this tournament, which only one amateur had won in the past,” Semikawa said. “I didn’t think I could save par on the final hole, but I knew my putt was going in when I saw it rolling towards the cup.”
“I hit a good bunker shot to save par on the 10th after the triple-bogey. That was huge. I was able to regroup for the rest of the round.”
Semikawa, currently first in the world amateur rankings, also became the first player in JGTO Tour history to win at least two tournaments before turning pro. He never looked back after holding the first-round lead.
Higa ended up carding a 69. Taiga Nagano (67) and another amateur, Yuta Sugiura (70), shared third place at 4 under for the tournament.
Australia’s Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, and Chan Kim of the United States were in a three-way tie for sixth at 2 over.
The previous amateur winner was Rokuro Akahoshi, who won the inaugural Japan Open in 1927.
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