Japanese young star Kanaya wins by four on International Series
His first win outside of Japan having won three times on the Japan Golf Tour
Takumi Kanaya (Jap) shot a final round one under par 71 for a 72 hole total of 10 under par to win the $2 million International Series – Oman on the Asian Tour at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat.
The 24 year-old, former World Amateur Number One, had a glittering Amateur career; winning the 2015 Japan Amateur, the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in 2018, and was a member of Team Japan in the 2018 Asian Games as well as twice representing Japan in the Eisenhower Trophy in 2016 and 2018.
Tanaka went to the turn in an impressive three birdie - no bogey, 33, to extend his one shot third round lead.
With the wind up again today (Sunday) he surprisingly missed three short putts and made bogeys on holes 10, 13 and 15, but managed a birdie on hole 14.
His lead was three shots with three to play and that was extended to a four-shot win with a birdie – par – bogey finish, as others faltered around him on another challenging day for golf, to win the first prize cheque of $360,000.
This is his first win outside of Japan having won three times on the Japan Golf Tour, one of those as still an amateur. Tanaya leads the International Series Order of Merit and moves into second place in the 2023 Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Tied in second place were Barry Henson (US) and Sadom Kaewkanjana (Thai) on 282, six under par, with final rounds of 70 and 72 respectively.
Dubai based Shiv Kapur (Ind) shot a final round three over par 75 for a four round total of five over 293 in tied 43rd place. His opening three rounds were 72, 74 and 72 to make his second cut in the row at the start of the 2023 season.
Recently turned professional Faisal Salhab (KSA) made the cut to follow on from other outstanding performances from MENA amateur golfers making the cut and playing all four rounds last week at the Saudi International, again on the Asian Tour: Issa Abouelela (Egypt) and El Mehdi Fakori (Mor).
Next week the Asian Tour stays in the Middle East region and moves onto Qatar and Doha Golf Club for the $2.5 million International Series – Qatar, Thursday 16th – Sunday 19th February, 2023. Dubai based golfers; Shiv Kapur (Ind), Jeev Mikha Singh (Ind) and MG Keyser (RSA) are all in the confirmed field.
Final Results (Par 72, 7,438 Yards)
T. Kanaya (Japan) 69, 71, 67, 71 = 278
B. Henson (US) 69, 73, 70, 70 = 282
S. Kaewkanjana (Thai) 67, 76, 67, 72 = 282
S. Lewton (Eng) 71, 73, 68, 71 = 283
S. Garcia (Spain) 67, 76, 68, 74 = 285
J. Niemann (Chile) 72, 70, 69, 74 = 285