First professional title for Japanese Sugiura

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First professional title for Japanese Sugiura

07-07-2024
Updated 9 minutes ago

Kani, Gifu, Japan: Yuta Sugiura the challenges of Japanese compatriots repelled Yuki Inamori And Taiga Semikawa to win his first professional title at the Japan PGA Championship.

Two shots ahead of the leaders at the start of the final round, the 22-year-old Sugiura shot an even-par 72 at Fuji Country Kani Club.

With a four-day total of 18-under-par 268, Sugiura finished one stroke ahead of Inamori and Semikawa.

It was Sugiura’s second victory for the Japan Golf Tour Organisation. Last November he won the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament as an amateur against all odds, just weeks after missing the cut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) at Royal Melbourne in Australia.

He was the first amateur to win the Dunlop title and only the seventh amateur to win at the JGTO, following in the footsteps of Hideki Matsuyama And Keita Nakajimaboth former AAC winners.

Sugiura enjoyed a stellar amateur career that saw him lead his country to victory in the 2022 edition of the Asia Pacific Amateur Golf Team Championship for the Nomura Cup in the Philippines, where he finished lowest.

Last yearhe had the honour of scoring the winning point for the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation team against the European Golf Association at last year’s Ryder Cup-style Bonallack Trophy in La Manga, Spain

At the ¥150 million (approximately US$1.5 million) Japan PGA Championship, a birdie on the penultimate hole in the final round gave Sugiura a two-shot lead. But a bogey on the par-four 18th left the door open for Inamori and Semikawa, who needed to birdie the home hole to force a sudden-death playoff.

However, to Sugiura’s relief, neither could get past par, leaving them wondering what could have happened.

Reflecting on his victory, Sugiura said: “It was definitely nerve-wracking after I bogeyed 18. I was prepared for a play-off, but luckily I didn’t have to. This win is extra sweet because it’s my win since I turned pro last year.

“It’s a huge confidence boost for my career and I’m definitely looking forward to winning more trophies.”