Timely Tonic for Talented Teenager Taisei
Kawagoe City, Japan: Tears of despair turned into tears of joy as Taisei Nagasaki savoured the sweet taste of success at the 70th Japan Junior Golf Championship Presented by Sky.
Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan: Tears of despair turned into tears of joy as Taisei Nagasaki savoured the sweet taste of success at the 70th Japan Junior Golf Championship Presented by Sky.
After a frustrating run of near-misses, the talented teenager finally found his way across the finish line in first place at the Kasumigaseki Country Club.
It as an emotional victory for Nagasaki who suffered the bitter disappointment of losing out in sudden-death play-offs at last year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai and at this year’s Royal Junior in his home country.
Over the East Course at Kasumigaseki, Nagasaki entered the final round of the Boys’ 15-17 age group category with a five-stroke lead. Thanks to a closing three-under-par 68 he posted a 54-hole total of 15-under 198 – seven shots clear of runner-up Mao Matsuyama.
It was an especially timely win for the second-year student at Yushi International High School who will spearhead Japan’s bid for glory at next week’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Team Championship for the Nomura Cup in Beijing.
Joining 15-year-old Nagasaki in the three-man Japan team in the Chinese capital will be Matsuyama and Kaito Sato.
In 2024, Nagasaki won the Japan Junior Boys’ 12-14 title before stepping up to the more senior category last year when he placed ninth.
A spokesperson for the Japan Golf Association said: “Nagasaki’s play showed how much he has grown in the past year and has raised great expectations for his future success as a key member of the national team.”
Meanwhile, Laurie Yoshiyuki was crowned champion in this year’s Boys’ 12-14 age group.
At the Chiba Country Club’s Umesato Course in Noda City, Yoshiyuki saw off the challenge of second-round leader Kento Taniguchi.
Yoshiyuki, who is in his third year at Higashihiroshima Municipal Takaya Junior High School, posted a final round of five-under 67 to overhaul Taniguchi.
With a 14-under aggregate of 202, Yoshiyuki ended six shots ahead of Taniguchi who signed off with a 74.
