Awesome Opportunity for Japanese Trio, Says Coach Jones

Paris, France: Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner Keita Nakajima will need to produce a memorable final-day Eisenhower Trophy performance if he’s to bow out of the amateur game in a blaze of glory.

Number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), Nakajima is poised to join the ranks of the professionals following Saturday’s concluding round in the 32nd World Amateur Team Championship.

Despite a lacklustre showing from Nakajima in France, Japan enters the last round in a share of second place, just one stroke off the pace being set by Sweden.

That Japan remains in contention is thanks largely to the brilliance of Taiga Semikawa, whose three-round total of 18-under-par 197 gives him a five-stroke lead in the individual standings. Meanwhile, with a 54-hole aggregate of one-over 216, Nakajima is languishing in a share of 62nd place.

On day three of the event in which the two best daily scores in each three-man team count to the team total, Semikawa posted a three-under 69, while Nakajima returned a three-over 75 at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche. Kohei Okada’s 76 was discounted.

Five strokes clear at the top after two rounds, Japan surrendered its lead because it could not contend with Sweden’s low scoring surge.

Gareth Jones, Japan’s Captain, said: “I think playing with the big lead on the first day and then a big lead after the second day, there was always going to be a tough day. Hopefully, it’s day three that’s the tough day and not day four. You never want to defend the lead. You can’t do that. I think today’s a lesson for the lads that we’ve got to keep playing because there are great players out here.

“There’s probably eight or nine teams who are really within close striking distance in this format that can change in an instant. We have got to play our best golf tomorrow.

“Even par for us around here is a tough day, a disappointing day. Taiga has kept us in the golf tournament. I think if you told us we’d be in the top two of three going into the final round, would we be happy? Absolutely. One from the lead is an awesome opportunity for the boys. Hopefully, we will make the most of that.”

Sweden, powered by an eight-under 64 from Tobias Jonsson and a six-under 66 from Ludvig Aberg claimed the lead at 23-under-par 407.

Entering the final round at Le Golf National, the site of the 2018 Ryder Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games, Sweden is one stroke ahead of first and second-round leader Japan, Italy and the United States. The hosts from France trail by two strokes in fifth place.

Of the participating Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation member countries, Australia is 15th on 420 followed by Singapore (tied 19th, 423), Hong Kong (tied 22nd, 424), Thailand (tied 27th, 425), Korea (tied 30th, 430), India and China (tied 33rd, 431), New Zealand (tied 37th, 435), Chinese Taipei (tied 41st, 439), Saudi Arabia (55th, 453), Philippines (57th, 456), Pakistan and Qatar (tied 66th, 475), United Arab Emirates (68th, 479), Bahrain and Guam (tied 69th, 487), Lebanon (71st, 499).

In the individual standings, China’s Ding Wenyi, the US Junior Amateur champion, is equal 22nd on six-under 209, one ahead of Australian Connor McKinney whose compatriot Harrison Crowe is alongside Korean Kim Min-hyuk tied for 29th on 211.

Also in red figures are Thai Ashita Piamkulvanich, who shot a bogey-free seven-under 64 at Le Golf National on day three, and Indian Rayhan Thomas (tied 33rd, 212), Japan’s Okada (tied 36th, 213) and Hong Kong duo Alex Yang and Taichi Kho (tied 45th, 214).