Open Disappointment for Kanaya and Nakajima

St Andrews, Scotland: For the second year in succession, Takumi Kanaya suffered Open Championship heartbreak.

Despite a second round one-under-par 71 over the Old Course at St Andrews, the 2018 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) winner missed the half-way cut by a single stroke.

The same fate befell him last year at Royal St George’s.

In the final analysis, Kanaya will reflect on a shocking start to his opening round in the 150th Open on Thursday when he slumped to five-over through four holes, a triple-bogey seven at the second followed by bogeys at three and four.

Although he covered the remaining 14 holes in three-under to sign for a 74 it left him with an uphill battle to qualify for the weekend.

His hopes were raised when he reached the turn in round two in two-under 34. But a three-putt bogey at 13 was to prove his downfall.

Heading to the final hole he knew he needed a birdie to return to even-par overall. However, he watched in anguish as his 16-footer for a three failed to drop.

Also bowing out after two rounds was Keita Nakajima, the reigning AAC champion and number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

“It’s disappointing but I’ve learned a lot this week,” said Nakajima, who was one-under overall through 29 holes. From there, though, it all went wrong for the 22-year-old as he added a 75 to his first-round 72.

A wild drive at 12 resulted in him having to take a penalty drop en route to a double-bogey six. Further dropped shots at 13 and 16 sealed his fate in what will likely be his final Major appearance as an amateur.

However, there was better news for Hideki Matsuyama. The two-time AAC winner (2010 and 2011) followed a 71 with an even-par 72 to make the cut.