Perfect lob shot on 18th

No.4 on the Money Rankings, Rikuya Hoshino needs to win to become the Order of Merit Champion. He moved up on the leader board today with score of 66 to solo 2nd, 3 strokes behind the leader.

Rikuya made double bogey on Par 3 18th in 1R yesterday. Today's average score for the 18th became 3.667 strokes and it is officially the toughest Par 3 of this season.

Rikuya came to the 18th green at 7 under, willing to make revenge for his double bogey yesterday. But as soon as he saw the pin position, he knew it was the toughest place to be set.

"I tried to calm down my fears and made the shot, but it went to unexpected place, and I was in trouble."

He made a great lob shot from the downhill roughs to 3-meter.

"I wished that would have saved par. I will do my best to make pars on 18th in the weekends ."

Rikuya started out at 2 under, 7T. He missed his tee shot on 3rd and made bogey, but he was encouraged by the students from local elementary school and revitalized. His first birdie came at 5th as he made miraculous shot from bottom of the left side cliff hitting through the trees to 2-meter of the pin.

"I shot intentional hook ball and read the wind from back right side. It was perfect shot."

On 6th, where he shot his 2nd shot with 3I to front right fringe, he read the 10 yards up & down slope right angle eagle putt perfectly and made it. He also made great bunker shot on 17th to 1-meter of the pin with his 3rd shot. Rikuya gave big effort on making exciting performance for the spectators to enjoy today, and also gave himself a good chance to become closer to attain the Order of Merit title.

Rikuya has won 3 times already in this prolonged 2021-22 season (2020 Fuji Sankei Classic, 2021 Kansai Open, and 2021 Asia Pacific Diamond Cup). He also challenged abroad at US PGA Championship, US Open and The Open, as well as representative for Tokyo Olympics.

It is surely the most dramatic and memorable season for Rikuya.

"If I could add another by winning this week and also be crowned as Order of Merit Champion title, that will be more than awesome."