Baba and Bosio Denied by Composed Hashimoto

Sydney, Australia: Mizuki Hashimoto reiterated her status as a future superstar of the sport by winning the women’s Australian Amateur championship at New South Wales Golf Club.

In so doing she narrowly denied fellow-Japanese Saki Baba, the reigning US Women’s Amateur champion and world number three, and Australian Justice Bosio, who was runner-up for the second consecutive year.

The 20-year-old Hashimoto had to fight hard for her victory despite starting with a three-shot lead, with Bosio and Baba pressing hard behind her.

But ultimately it was Hashimoto, Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion in 2021 and individual winner at last year’s Queen Sirikit Cup, who held firm at the last hole.

One shot ahead at 11-under-par with Baba having posted 10-under in the clubhouse and Bosio at 10-under in the same group, Hashimoto was flawless at the par-five 18th with a two-putt par when any mistake would have meant calamity.

Bosio, 18, from Caboolture Golf Club north of Brisbane, did the right thing by hitting the green in regulation and left herself a 12-foot downhill putt for birdie that could potentially have sent it to a play-off back up the 18th hole.

But the Queenslander left her birdie putt short and could only manage par, which gave the Japanese star two putts from nine feet for the win, a task she accomplished with ease.

She carries her bag on her back, but she scarcely misses a shot, and Hashimoto is a strong part of the brilliant Japanese women’s national programme.

Beginning with a three-shot lead, she was mostly steady in shooting a 73, wobbling only at the 16th where she lost her tee shot and left the door open for Bosio, who was on a hot streak at the time. The Queenslander had made three birdies in four holes and was within one at this point. But Bosio could not close the deal … quite.

Wedging in to mid-range at the 18th, she told herself to be positive. “I was actually trying to tell myself to get it to the hole, and I didn’t do that,” she said. “Clearly that didn’t help but maybe next time when I’m in the same situation I’ll get it to the hole.”

The teenager is already part of Golf Australia’s High Performance programmes, and clearly has a bright future. She was philosophical about her consecutive second-place finishes at Cranbourne in 2022 and in Sydney this year.

“It’s a little bit upsetting coming one short two years in a row, but on the other hand really pleasing to know that I can play really good in these top tournaments in Australia.”

Japanese players filled four of the top five places with Yuna Araki - winner of the previous week's Australian Masters of the Amateurs - and Mamika Shinchi ending in a share of fourth place on 287.

New Zealand’s Fiona Xu was one shot further back in joint sixth while Indian Avani Prashanth was equal 17th on 295.

*Article by Martin Blake, Golf Australia