Tokyo, Japan: Rianne Malixi suffered final-hole heartbreak as Shio Chaki emerged triumphant in a thrilling finale to The Royal Junior tournament.
Holding a two-stroke lead going to the final hole, Malixi, the talented 16-year-old from the Philippines, appeared set for victory.
However, she was derailed by a wayward drive that led to a triple-bogey seven on the home hole at The Royal Club in Tokyo, meaning Malixi signed off with a two-over 74.
With a 54-hole aggregate of 219, Malixi had to settle for a share of third place with Japan’s Kokoro Nakamura and Fuka Suga – one shot shy of Japanese duo Chaki and Saori Iijima.
In a dramatic sudden-death play-off it was Chaki who held her nerve to prevail at the fifth extra hole in the event that is endorsed by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) and featured a selection of leading players from APGC member countries.
It was an unexpected success for Chaki who began the week in 873rd place in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Her only previous top-10 finish in a WAGR-rated event was runner-up in the Kanto Junior Championship in 2021.
With her win in the JHGA Spring Championship in the last week of March, Iijima rose to 79th in the WAGR.
Also among the pre-tournament favourites was Suga who soared to 62nd in the WAGR following her third-place finish in last week’s Fundokin Ladies on the Japan LPGA Tour.
Despite her disappointment at losing out at the death, it was another impressive display from Malixi who can take great heart from what was her seventh top-three finishes in her last 10 starts – a sequence of results that have seen her break into the WAGR’s top-100 for the first time.
In the boys’ tournament, which was held concurrently, the strength in depth of Japanese juniors was illustrated by Shoon Kobayashi, who posted scores of 71, 69 and 73 to finish one stroke in front of compatriot Reo Maruo. The leading APGC representative was Singapore’s Daryl Low in joint third place.
Thanks to their respective successes, Chaki and Kobayashi will now have further opportunities to move up the rankings and broaden their travel experience with trips to England to look forward to.
While Chaki receives an exemption into the 120th Women’s Amateur Championship at Prince’s Golf Club (June 13-18), Kobayashi has earned a starting slot in the 128th The Amateur Championship at Hillside Golf Club and Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club (June 19-24).
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 Boys’ Scores
213 – Shoon Kobayashi (Japan) 71-69-73
214 – Reo Maruo (Japan) 71-72-71
220 – Kaito Sato (Japan) 73-72-75; Kota Takeda (Japan) 71-73-76; Daryl Low (Singapore) 73-69-78
223 – Fujii Taiki (Japan) 73-75-75
225 – Jukito Ogawa (Japan) 76-75-74
Selected Scores
229 – Chen Chi-chun (Chinese Taipei) 76-82-71; Zack Swanwick (New Zealand) 79-73-77
230 – Lin Xingzhi (Hong Kong, China) 79-71-80
231 – Jordan Indra Marcello (Indonesia) 78-76-77
236 – Shinichi Suzuki (Philippines) 77-76-83
238 – Nateeshvar Anatha Ganesh (Malaysia) 84-75-79
244 – Teerawut Boonseeor (Thailand) 83-82-79
Leading Girls’ Scores
218 – Shio Chaki* (Japan) 73-73-72; Saori Iijima (Japan) 73-72-73
219 – Kokoro Nakamura (Japan) 78-73-68; Fuka Suga (Japan) 74-72-73; Rianne Malixi (Philippines) 74-71-74
221 – Ayumi Tokunaga (Japan) 73-75-73
223 – Chizuru Komiya (Japan) 79-74-70; Mamika Shinichi (Japan) 75-73-75
*Chaki won sudden-death play-off at fifth extra hole
Selected Scores
224 – Achiraya Sriwong (Thailand) 73-73-78
225 – Sophie Han (Hong Kong, China) 83-71-71; Navaporn Soontreeyapas (Thailand) 79-72-74; Liao Hsin-chun (Chinese Taipei) 73-73-79
226 – Eunseo Choi (New Zealand) 77-78-71; Lee Hyo-song (Korea) 77-78-71
233 – Ng Jing Xuen (Malaysia) 76-80-77
241 – Jessica Tan (Indonesia) 80-81-80