KANI, Gifu (Kyodo) — Yuta Sugiura claimed his first major title and second JGTO Tour victory at the Japan PGA Championship golf tournament Sunday.
The 22-year-old, playing the event for the first time, closed with an even-par 72 for an 18-under 268 total and a one-shot win at Fuji Country Kani Club in Kani, Gifu Prefecture.
“It was a tough, long day,” Sugiura said after trading three birdies, all on par-5 holes, against as many bogeys. “It was really hot out there. I felt pressure to win while being unable to make putts. But I managed to get birdies on par-5 holes.”
The victory gave him a five-year exemption on the tour and 30 million yen ($189,000). Last November, Sugiura won the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament when he was still an amateur.
Yuki Inamori (67) and Taiga Semikawa (71) shared second place. South Korea’s Song Young Han and South Africa’s Shaun Norris were in a tie for sixth at 14 under after they both shot 66.