Sugiura claims maiden professional win at Japan PGA Championship

Yuta Suigura withstood the pressure from compatriots Yuki Inamori and Taiga Semikawa to claim his first professional victory with a final round even-par 72 to win the Japan PGA Championship on Sunday.

Starting the round with a two-shot advantage, the 22-year-old got off to an encouraging start with a birdie on the second hole. However, he dropped two shots on holes seven and nine to reach the turn in 37.

With Inamori and Semikawa piling the pressure in his back-nine, Suigura then birdied the 12^th and 17^th hole before dropping another shot in his closing 18 to compile a four-day total of 18-under-par 268.

He was left to watch nervously as both Inamori and Semikawa could have forced the contest into extra-time had they birdied the 18^th hole. However with both only managing to make par on the par-four 18, Suigura was clearly elated to clinch victory at the Fuji Country Kani Club.

“It was definitely nerve wreaking after I bogeyed 18. I was prepared for a playoff already but thankfully, I did not have to. This victory is especially sweet as it’s my win since turning profession last year.

“It’s a huge confidence booster for my career and I’m definitely looking forward to lifting more trophies,” said Suigura.

The 22-year-old had already enjoyed a distinguished amateur career when he became the first-ever amateur and only seventh amateur winner in JGTO history to do so to win the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in November last year.

Ends.

Leading final round scores
268 Yuta Sugiura 65-66-65-72
269 Taiga Semikawa 65-66 – 67-71, Yuki Inamori 71-67-64-67
271 Hiroshi Iwata 71-65-68-67, Taisei Shimizu 65-66-71-69          
272 Song Young-han (KOR) 66-71-69-66, Shaun Norris (RSA) 71-68-67-66, Takahiro Hataji 68-69-68-67, Kosei Takeyama 67-68-68-69, Sejung Hiramoto 66-71-66-69, Takumi Kanaya 65-70-67-70
*All Japanese nationals unless indicated otherwise