Tokyo, Japan: Japan’s Reo Maruo and Aisa Saito outlasted their rivals to post notable successes in the third edition of The Royal Junior.

As the hopes of Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) representatives faded on the final day at The Royal Club, Maruo and Saito stood firm to claim top honours in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively.

Victory was especially sweet for Maruo who finished runner-up to compatriot Shoon Kobayashi last year in the 54-hole event that is one of the foremost tournaments for high school students in Japan.

Joint leader with New Zealand’s Cooper Moore heading into the final round, Maruo proved too steady for his rivals over the demanding 8,007-yard layout.

Thanks to an outward three-under 33, Maruo established a commanding lead that he never appeared likely to surrender.

With an inward 39, his closing even-par 72 gave him a three-day total of three-over 219 and a win that will ensure he enjoys a significant rise in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) in which he began the week in 892nd place.

Three strokes behind Maruo in second spot was Japan’s Amuro Yoshiyuki. His final-day 68 completed a fabulous recovery from an opening-round 83.

Rising Chinese star Gu Liangliang, 380th in the WAGR, underlined his reputation as one of the region’s most promising prospects with a second successive 73. That gave him sole possession of third place on 223 with Shinichi Suzuki of the Philippines settling for fourth on 224.

Winner of last year’s Buick China Junior Championship and third in the HSBC China Junior Open, Gu is being widely touted for a bright future.

Like Maruo, Saito produced a solid closing even-par 72 to take the girls’ title.

Joint second overnight, Saito posted a 54-hole aggregate of four-over 220 to finish three shots ahead of her closest rivals – fellow-Japanese Miina Gion, Indian Avani Prashanth and Rianne Malixi of the Philippines. It was the second year in a row that Malixi ended third.

New Zealand’s Eunseo Choi, the second-round leader, carded a 77 to finish in a share of fifth place on 224.

Thanks to their respective successes, Saito and Maruo will now have further opportunities to move up the world rankings and broaden their travel experience with trips to Ireland to look forward to.

While Saito receives an exemption into the 121st Women’s Amateur Championship over the historic Irish links of Portmarnock (June 24-29), Maruo has earned a starting slot in the 129th The Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin (June 17-22).

Organised by Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings Inc and approved by the APGC and The R&A, The Royal Junior is also supported by the Japan Golf Association, Japan High School and Junior High School Golf Association.

LEADING FINAL SCORES

Boys

219 – Reo Maruo (Japan) 73-74-72
222 – Amuro Yoshiyuki (Japan) 83-71-68
223 – Gu Liangliang (China) 77-73-73
224 – Shinichi Suzuki (Philippines) 75-73-76
225 – Kaito Hashizume (Japan) 75-77-73; Kiyomoto Takahide (Japan) 72-79-74; Kota Takeda (Japan) 74-76-75
226 – Brayden Lee (Singapore) 83-71-72; Warut Boonrod (Thailand) 80-78-68
227 – Kim Si-yoon (Korea) 79-78-70; Cooper Moore (New Zealand) 78-69-80

Girls

220 – Aisa Saito (Japan) 76-72-72
223 – Miina Gion (Japan) 76-76-71; Avani Prashanth (India) 74-75-74; Rianne Malixi (Philippines) 72-76-75
224 – Mamika Shinchi (Japan) 77-75-72; Tsukiha Nakashima (Japan) 74-77-73; Lee Yun-seo (Korea) 79-70-75; Eunseo Choi (New Zealand) 75-72-77
225 – Park Seo-jin (Korea) 78-71-76
226 – Seara Ito (Japan) 76-75-75