Western Amateur Win Opens Doors for Kiwi Kobori

Illinois, United States: With his win at the 121st Western Amateur, New Zealander Kazuma Kobori has not only vaulted to the top of the Elite Amateur Cup standings, earning the season-long title. He’s also been rewarded with exemptions into the PGA Tour’s Bermuda Championship and two Korn Ferry Tour events next season.

“I hadn’t won a tournament in the US and actually missed almost every cut in the Elite Amateur Series last year,” said 21-year-old Kobori, winner of this year Australian Amateur Championship and a member of the New Zealand team at last year’s Nomura Cup.

“I made every cut this year, and to finish it off with a win is just incredible,” added Kobori, whose US commitments had meant he was unable to represent the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation team that won the Bonallack Trophy against their European Golf Association rivals at the weekend.

While his compatriots Mako Thompson and Joshua Bai, runner-up in the previous week’s US Junior Amateur, were flying the flag for the Asia-Pacific at Spain’s La Manga Resort, Kobori stood on the final hole at the Western Amateur and saw the 18th green of North Shore Country Club entirely surrounded by fans.

The crowd that turned out to the Glenview club had witnessed a back-and-forth battle between two international standouts, and Kobori was about to give them one more highlight.

Sitting one-up over South African Christiaan Maas, Kobori surveyed a 15-foot birdie putt that would put an end to a weeklong pursuit of the George R. Thorne Trophy.

“I just gave it a shot, and then it started to dribble toward the hole. It stayed online, and with a foot to go I knew it was going in. To win a tournament that I only thought I could be a small part of is an incredible feeling,” said Kobori, who began the week in 49th place in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Kobori walked the putt into the hole and pumped his fist in the air, celebrating the second win for a Kiwi in golf’s third oldest amateur championship, joining 2008 champion Danny Lee.

In the first Western Amateur final between two players from the southern hemisphere, Maas, who had eliminated China’s Ding Wenyi 3&2 in the Round of 16, made it far from easy for Kobori.

Starting on number two, it appeared Kobori would jump to an early lead when Maas’ second shot bounced into the hedges left of the green. After Maas punched into a greenside bunker, the Texas sophomore hit one of the top shots of the championship, holing out for a miracle birdie.

Unphased, Kobori drained a birdie of his own, curling in a 25-foot putt to match Maas’ highlight.

“I just had a weird feeling he was going to hole it,” Kobori said. “Christiaan just played unbelievable. If he beat me with some unbelievable golf shots I can live with it, but I knew I had to play my game of golf and give it my all.”

Kobori won the third and fourth before Maas fought back to go one-up through 10 holes. Kobori brought the match back to even with a birdie on a stellar up-and-down from a deep greenside bunker on 12.

After Maas’ tee shot on 17 settled behind a tree, Kobori took full advantage of the opportunity by making par to go one-up heading into the final hole. “It was kind of all a blur there,” he said. “I wasn’t really thinking about anything going into the last.”

Kobori promptly hit his ninth fairway of the match and lofted a wedge onto the green, setting up the championship-clinching putt.

That moment was set up, in part, by an advantage Kobori gained in the morning.

Kobori started his day by dispatching reigning US Mid-Amateur champion Matthew McClean, of Northern Ireland, by a 6&5 margin. The dominant semi-final victory not only sparked momentum for the afternoon but also gave Kobori an opportunity to rest while Maas continued for another hour in his 3&2 defeat of Drew Goodman.

“With the practice rounds, I played about 10 rounds of golf across the week,” Kobori said. “Just taking some time to get some rest helped me feel great in the afternoon.”

While physical endurance is paramount in navigating North Shore for a 10th time, mental resilience is also of upmost importance in one of amateur golf’s most gruelling tests.

For Kobori, his caddie made all the difference. John Hammond, Kobori’s host for the week, jumped on the bag to lighten the load and offer an experienced perspective of North Shore. Hammond, 44, caddied at the club through high school and has played the golf course as a member for the past five years.

“Regardless of how I played, I know I wouldn’t have won this without him,” Kobori said. “I had already played in every Elite Amateur Series event this summer, so physically I wouldn’t have been able to do this without him. I’m so happy that he helped.”