Goto Outduels Queen Sirikit Cup Team-Mates

Hannō City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan: Ai Goto outgunned international team-mates Yurina Hiroyoshi and Anna Iwanaga en route to claiming a wire-to-wire victory at the 70th Japan Junior Golf Championship Presented by Sky.

In Indonesia in May, Goto, Hiroyoshi and Iwanaga formed the Japan team that triumphed in the Amateur Ladies Asia-Pacific Invitational Golf Team Championship for the Queen Sirikit Cup.

At the Kuni Country Club’s East and North Courses, however, friendship took a back seat as the trio battled for individual honours in the 15-17 age group category.

And it was Goto who secured bragging rights – and the trophy – thanks to a brilliant performance that saw her post back-to-back 64s in the first two rounds.

A closing bogey-free 67 gave her a 54-hole total of 21-under-par 195. That was two strokes in front of runner-up Reina Chikashige. One stroke further back in joint third was Hiroyoshi with Iwanaga ending equal fifth on 15-under 201.

While Hiroyoshi carded two 66s and a closing 67, Iwanaga, the defending champion who reached the final of the US Women’s Amateur Championship a fortnight ago, returned three rounds of five-under 67.

Meanwhile, at the Chiba Country Club Umesato Course in Noda City, Hinako Kinoshita emerged victorious in the Girls’ 12-14 age group.

The third-year student at Hisai Junior High School in Tsu City signed off with a 69 to secure top spot with an aggregate of 13-under 203. Second place went to Kii Michigami on 206.

The duo were tied for the lead heading into the final round, but it was Kinoshita, third in the category in 2024, who took control early when her rival bogeyed consecutive holes from the third.

Kinoshita then made four consecutive birdies from the fifth to pull clear.