Japan Open Joy for Sensational Semikawa

Bangkok, Thailand: He may be conspicuous by his absence at the 13th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), but the deeds of Taiga Semikawa dominated discussion among competitors at Amata Spring Country Club.

Semikawa more than lived up to his credentials as the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) number one player by upstaging the professionals to win the Japan Open Golf Championship.

He is only the second amateur to win the Japan Open, and the first in 95 years since Rokuro Akahoshi at the inaugural staging of the event in 1927.

Furthermore, Semikawa entered the record books as the first amateur to win twice on the Japan Tour having triumphed in the Panasonic Open Golf Championship on the first weekend of October.

With rounds of 64, 70, 63 and 73 at the Japan Open, he posted an aggregate of 10-under 270 at the Sanko Golf Club Japan Course in Miki City, Hyogo. That was two strokes ahead of runner-up Kazuki Higa.

On the back of his latest success, Semikawa has extended his lead at the top of the WAGR table over Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg to just under 250 (249.80) points.

However, due to college commitments, the 21-year-old is unable to take his place in the AAC. Another factor in his decision not to travel to Thailand this week is that he’s already announced his plans to turn professional next month.

As such, were he to have played and won at Amata Spring and then relinquished his amateur status, he would not have been eligible to accept the prize of starting places in the Masters Tournament and Open Championship in 2023.

Former WAGR number one Takumi Kanaya, winner of the AAC in 2018, finished fifth, while there were also impressive performances from three other current amateurs.

Kosuke Suzuki made a 14-ranking move to 18th in the WAGR courtesy of finishing 19th, while Yuta Sugiura’s third place finish takes him up 77 places to 32nd and Kohei Okada rose 22 spots to 38th after earning a share of 28th place in the Japan Open.

Meanwhile, in Alpharetta, Georgia, Singapore’s Hiroshi Tai powered his way up the world order by winning the Golf Club of Georgia College.

The Georgia Tech student got off to fast start with a seven-under-par 65 to share the first-round lead. He added consecutive 69s for a 13-under 203 tally and a one-shot victory.

It is Tai’s second success in his last four starts, following last month’s win in the Maui Jim Individual. He jumps 185 positions to 115th.