Ryosuke Kinoshita claims first professional victory on home soil
Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita broke through on the Japan Golf Tour on Sunday, claiming his first professional win in eight years with a five-shot victory at the Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup Shishido Hills.
The 29-year-old Kinoshita, an Asian Tour member who enjoyed two top-10 finishes in Singapore and New Zealand early last year, took home a winner’s prize purse of approximately US$274,000 and won himself a BMW X5 xDrive35d M Sport following his triumph.
“It took me so long to grab my first win. I have failed to win so many times. I got anxious again today, but thanks to all of the fan’s cheers, I was able to make this happen,” said Kinoshita, who has also earned a five-year exemption on the JGTO and a ticket to the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
The victory will be a confidence boost for Kinoshita when he makes his Major debut at The Open next month. He earned the coveted spot, thanks to his tied-sixth place result at the SMBC Singapore Open in January 2020.
“Compared to the star players who are around my age, such as Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Ishikawa, I am way behind. But I will add on more victories and try to catch up to them as fast as I could,” Kinoshita added.
(From left) Korea’s Joohyung Kim, Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, Richard T. Lee of Canada and Ryosuke Kinoshita of Japan are the four players to qualify for The Open at the 2020 SMBC Singapore Open.
Black Mountain Golf Club joined Asian Tour Destinations – the exclusive network of golf clubs with direct ties to the Asian Tour – in August last year and so we felt it an opportune time to catch up with Harald Elisson, their General Manager, to find out how things are at Hua Hin’s preeminent golfing venue.
Q. Harald, it has been a difficult 2020 and 2021 for everyone in the golf industry. How have things been at Black Mountain Golf Club?
Yes, it has been a challenging time but we are weathering the storm well. I am delighted to say, as we speak, even though some things are closed during another period of restrictions, the golf course, driving range and restaurant are open – no alcohol sales allowed, of course.
Obviously, we are dependent on tourism, but international visitors are practically non-existent at-the-moment. Normally we would welcome visitors from Scandinavia, the UK, Germany and Switzerland but nobody wants to go through quarantine if they are on vacation. November to March would normally be our busiest period, but the numbers were drastically down last year.
However, on a more positive note we have been very encouraged by the relatively high traffic of visitors from Bangkok at the weekends – domestic tourism during the pandemic has been surprisingly good.
And, despite everything, we have been able to sell real estate as people are still moving here.
Harald Elisson, General Manager, Black Mountain Golf Club
Q. Black Mountain is a wonderful golfing oasis. Can you run through everything you have on site and explain the concept behind the project.
Everything here is under the Black Mountain umbrella. It’s all one golf community and obviously the heart of the whole project is the golf course. We have a wealth of real estate –with condominiums and houses – which continue to grow; we keep building more and selling more. As I said before, even now in the pandemic we keep getting new owners for houses and condos with people moving here, and we keep building new ones as well. Most of the condos are now sold. We have 76 condos and about 100 houses (60 residential and 40 resort villas which operate as a hotel): the condos are two or three bedrooms, while the villas are two to four bedrooms, so there are quite big variety of sizes.
And, of course, we have so many facilities: the water park is probably the main one and there is also a sports area with tennis and volleyball courts.
Guests staying on site have preferential treatment for all facilities.
Q. How does one become a member of the golf club?
A key part of the whole concept here is that golf membership comes with the real estate – all of which overlooks the golf course. The concept is that we only sell memberships to property owners; everyone who is a member lives on site. This has been the plan from the beginning, and it has been very successful. We wanted to create a special and unique atmosphere for the members.
Scott Hend of Australia celebrates with the trophy after claiming victory during the final round on day four of the Thailand Classic at Black Mountain Golf Club on March 13, 2016 in Hua Hin, Thailand. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Q. Where do your residents come from?
In the beginning, as this is a Swedish investment, it was very heavily influenced by Swedish buyers but over the years it has diversified.
It is now mostly Europeans, Americans and Australians and of course some from Asia. It is very much a mix, but I would say 40% are Scandinavians.
Early on most were buying as a second home but now people are living here on a more permanent basis. We have an international school on site – not owned by Black Mountain but it is located here: so that is a big thing and means a lot of families have moved here. The school is from early years up to secondary.
Q. Last year you became part of the Asian Tour Destinations network. The Tour is excited to have you on board. What is Black Mountain hoping to achieve with this tie up?
Well, let me start by saying that we have been close to Asian Tour going back to when we started the project over a decade ago.
And, of course, we have hosted many Asian Tour events but by becoming part of Asian Tour Destinations we hope to further grow the relationship through brand association, cross marketing and more importantly furthering ties with the other golf clubs who are part of the network.
Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand tees off on the 1st hole during the Pro-am event of the Black Mountain Masters at Black Mountain Golf Club on December 15, 2010 in Hua Hin, Thailand. (Photo by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
And we are already seeing some early benefits of this association – even though it has been difficult to move forward with many things because of the pandemic.
The practice facilities are very popular here, they are in very good shape all year round, so we have already seen some Asian Tour members here practicing and we look forward to welcoming more.
Their presence is great for our residents; it helps elevate the overall atmosphere on site, unlike few other golfing properties.
Q. On that note, you have a number of high-profile professionals associated with Black Mountain. Who are they and what is the relationship?
I am delighted to say that all the professionals are actually residents at Black Mountain.
Thongchai Jaidee and Jazz Janewattananond – both former Asian Tour number ones – and other Asian Tour winners Berry Henson and Simon Yates own property here, as do Johan Edfors and Rikard Karlberg – both winners on the European Tour.
As with the Asian Tour members practising here, having this calibre of professionals live and play in and around the community is a wonderful feature.
General view of the 2nd green during the third round of the 2016 True Thailand Classic at Black Mountain Golf Club on March 12, 2016 in Hua Hin, Thailand. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Q. As you mentioned earlier, your venue is synonymous with hosting world-class tournaments. What has been the objective behind this, and will we see more Asian Tour events there in the future, when conditions permit?
We knew in the beginning we wanted to stage Tour events, and that came to fruition very quickly when we hosted the Black Mountain Masters in 2009 and 2010, when Johan (Edfors) and Tetsuji (Hiratsuka) won respectively.
In addition to the Black Mountain Masters we also held the Thailand Classic, King’s Cup, and Royal Trophy here.
Essentially, hosting tournaments of this scale has been one of the main ways of marketing this whole project. The live television element is the perfect way to promote our property.
So, tournaments have really helped put us on the map and we have been really happy with the results. Certainly, we intend to host more in the future.
Johan Edfors of Sweden, defending champion, relaxes at his golf course villa after a practice round for the Black Mountain Masters at Black Mountain Golf Club on December 14, 2010 in Hua Hin, Thailand. (Photo by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
Former Asian Tour number one Juvic Pagunsan says more “focus” and “mental strength” were the factors behind his popular victory last Sunday in the Gate Way To The Open Mizuno Open – surprisingly, his maiden win in Japan after a decade of trying, and, perhaps even more notably, his first triumph on one of the region’s main Tours since claiming the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational on the Asian Tour in 2007.
“I had been practicing very hard and trying to really focus on my game,” said the Filipino, whose victory also earned him a berth in this year’s Open Championship field at Royal St George’s, July 15-18.
“I was a little bit worried that I would never win again, but I kept practicing, playing and working on getting mentally stronger, that is why I was able to win again.”
Juvic celebrates his birdie on the 18th hole during the third and final round of the Barclays Singapore Open at the Sentosa Golf Club on November 13, 2011 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Since turning professional 15 years ago the Filipino star has recorded eight runner-up finishes on the Asian Tour and seven on the Japan Golf Tour Organization – an impressive track record, even though it is void of titles.
One of those second placed finishes came in the Barclays Singapore Open in 2011, where he was beaten by Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, aka “Gonzo”, in that famous sudden-death play-off that had to be completed on Monday morning. Although disappointed to lose, Pagunsan was consoled by earning a cheque for US$666,660 – which helped him secure the Asian Tour Order of Merit title.
But at the age of 43 many thought Pagunsan had missed the boat on another victory.
The Filipino – who is also a two-time winner on the Asian Development Tour – is philosophical about it.
“If the tournament is yours, it is yours, but if it is not, it’s not, but if you still keep playing you have a chance to win,” he says.
“It is nearly 11 years in Japan right now and I always came up second but last week I broke that curse and I did it, I finally won.
“Hopefully I can win again, every year, and every tournament I keep positive.”
Juvic poses with the winning trophy at the end of the final round of Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational Golf Tournament at the Damai Indah Golf and Country Club in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, 28 October 2007. AFP PHOTO/Bay ISMOYO (Photo credit should read BAY ISMOYO/AFP via Getty Images)
Remarkably, he marched to victory last weekend carrying his own clubs (partly due to COVID-19 restrictions) as: “I didn’t have a private caddie and I didn’t want to use the push carts.”
It was the third time this year he had carried his bag in Japan, but whereas on the two previous occasions he lugged a full set, this time he felt it best to make his bag lighter and carry 11 clubs (legally you are allowed to carry 14).
He added: “I am getting older and the last two times with 14 clubs were really heavy. I don’t like to use the electric carts, since you have to go all the way around the greens.”
Out went his three, four, six, and eight irons and in came a 19-degree utility club, four wedges and a winners’ cheque for ¥12,000,000 (US$109,304) – elevating his career earnings in Japan to ¥237,625,768 (US$2,163,489).
As for his trip to the Open he says:
“I have had a lot of experience playing links golf. I actually made the cut the first time I played the Open (he finished tied 72nd in 2012 at Royal Lytham & St Annes). But missed the cut in 2014 (at Royal Liverpool). I will try and draw on those experiences when I play this year.”
ENDS
When Thongchai Jaidee turned professional in 1999 – to much fanfare following an all-conquering amateur career – the last thing on his mind would have been the distant and ancient land of Wales.
But 13 years after joining the ranks of play-for-pay – and indeed on this day in 2012 – it was there, at the ISPS Handa Wales Open, that he recorded what is considered to be one of the greatest victories by an Asian golfer.
Thongchai had already claimed four European Tour events up until that point, but they were all joint-sanctioned events in Asia.
Whether he was able to transfer that kind of form onto European soil, where conditions were vastly different, was an unknown variable.
Thongchai poses with the trophy after winning in Wales (Photo by Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)
However, in the summer of 2012, Thongchai – who was 42 years old at the time – silenced any doubters when he overcame a star-studded field at a wet and windy Celtic Manor Resort – the venue for another closely fought European win at the Ryder Cup just two years earlier.
The Thai golfer closed with a one-over-par 72 for a six under total and a one-stroke victory over Dane Thomas Björn, Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, Dutchman Joost Luiten and South African Richard Sterne.
“I want to say thank you to all my family, all the supporters and the sponsors here,” he said.
“Conditions were quite tough for me.
“I tried to hit everything on the fairway – that’s the main thing – then hit the ball on the green. It was very, very tough for me, not like Thailand!”
The victory also meant he became the first player from Thailand to win in Europe.
Thongchai celebrates with his caddie (Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
The former paratrooper, world ranked 199, led by one overnight, but fell one behind after running up a double-bogey seven at the ninth.
But with typical Thongchai bravado he made three birdies in rapid-fire succession from the 10th and another on the 15th to seize control.
That gave him the luxury of being able to bogey the 16th and 18th and still take the £300,000 first prize.
At the time it was his 16th win as a professional and he could have been forgiven for sitting back and resting on his laurels but the win in Wales proved to be the first of many European conquests.
He went on to win four more titles in Europe to help cement his position as one of the greatest golfers produced by the Asian Tour.
Thongchai tees off on the 18th hole during the final round. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Asian Tour members produced a hat-trick of victories last week with Juvic Pagunsan from the Philippines – the 2011 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion – claiming his maiden title in Japan, while Korean Kyongjun Moon and China’s Yanwei Liu won on their respective domestic circuits.
Pagunsan triumphed in the Gate Way To The Open Mizuno Open, and, as the event name suggests, secured his ticket to this summer’s Open Championship – to be played at Royal St George’s Golf Club from July 15-18.
Helped by birdies on 15 and 16, he closed with a four-under-par 68 at the Setonaikai Golf Club in Okayama to end on 17-under-par 199, and finish three ahead of Ryutaro Nagano from Japan.
KASAOKA, JAPAN – MAY 30: Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines celebrates winning the The Mizuno Open. (Photo by Toru Hanai/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Pagunsan, who finished second in the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup earlier in the month, has been playing on the Japan Golf Tour Organization for the past decade and was thrilled to finally win there.
“It has been 10 years, 10 years! It took me 10 years to win! Now I am relieved,” he said, after his round. “I get to go to UK. I can go again. Could I get my visa? How is the quarantine measures?”
Remarkably, the 43-year-old won with only 11 clubs in his bag, because due to COVID-19 precautions caddies are only allowed to follow their golfers in carts – so Pagunsan chose to lighten his bag by removing his 3, 4, 6, and 8 irons.
Credit: KPGA Korean Tour
Moon moved to the top of the Money List on the Korean PGA Tour when he claimed the KB Financial Live Championship at Black Stone Icheon Golf Club.
He closed with a three-under-par 69 to finish on eight-under-par 208 – three ahead of compatriot Jeongwoo Ham, in what was the fourth event of the season in Korea.
Over on the China Tour, Liu won the Zhengzhou Classic at St Andrews (Zhengzhou) Golf Club. He shot a one-under-par 71 on the last day for a tournament total of eight under – one better than former teenage-star Jason Hak from Hong Kong.
It was also their fourth event of 2021.
Shaun Norris from South Africa claimed his fifth title in Japan on Sunday – and first since 2019 – when he won the inaugural Golf Partner Pro-Am Tournament after a thrilling sudden-death play-off at Toride Kokusai Golf Club.
Norris, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, beat fellow Asian Tour member Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe and Japan’s Tomoharu Ostuki after two extra holes.
Ostuki, the leader after each of the first three rounds, made bogey on the 72nd to send the tournament into overtime but dropped out after making a double on the first play-off hole. On the following hole Vincent failed to save par to hand victory to Norris.
“I wasn’t able to come to Japan Tour last year so I am way down on the Money race, but I will fight hard to catch up. I want to win at least two more this season,” said Norris, who earned a cheque for just over US$122,000.
Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
The South African had closed with a seven-under-par 63 for a four-round total of 21 under.
He said: “I felt I had an advantage against the other two”, as he explained his last win in 2019 at the ANA Open came after a five-way playoff.
His victory was made more impressive by the fact that he pushed his cart all week, as his brother and regular caddie was ill.
“I wish my brother was here with me to celebrate,” added Norris, who turned 39 earlier this month.
Filipino Angelo Que, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour, finished in a tie for fourth – three shots short of the play-off.
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 23: Phil Mickelson of the United States celebrates with brother and caddie Tim Mickelson after winning on the 18th green during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship held at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort on May 23, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
At the PGA Championship, where American Phil Mickelson made his history by becoming the oldest winner of a Major at the age of 50, four Asian Tour members competed but failed to make it through to the weekend.
Americans John Catlin and Kurt Kitayama missed the cut by five with Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Rikuya Hoshino from Japan further down the leaderboard.
American John Catlin begins the next chapter of his meteoric rise in the game tomorrow when he makes his debut in a Major, at the PGA Championship – on the daunting Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
It was only a month ago that the 30 year old claimed the Austria Golf Open – following five gripping sudden-death play-off holes against Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer – to secure his third victory on the European Tour in eight months, which moved him into the top-100 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
“I’d love to crack that top-50 in the world,” said the Californian, after winning in Austria.
“Just to get a chance to play in some Major Championships – I’ve actually never played in a Major. I’m thinking this gives me a very good chance to play in the US PGA Championship, that was kind of my goal.
Catlin with the Austria Golf Open trophy on April 18 (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
“Hopefully it’s good enough and to get into those events and to have the chance to win a Major, that’s been my goal since I was a kid.”
Well, that was all made possible soon after when he received a special invitation to play in the PGA Championship – the second Major of the year, where American Collin Morikawa will defend.
“It’s very exciting [to get to play in the PGA Championship]. It’s the only level of golf I haven’t been to yet,” Catlin said, more recently.
Catlin has been rewarded for his success by being paired in a high-profile group consisting of two other rising stars in the game: Scottish lefthander Robert MacIntyre and big-hitting American Cameron Champ. They tee-off on the 10th at 7.49am, local time.
Catlin celebrates winning the 2019 Thailand Open, after a three-man play-off at Thai Country Club on November 10. (Photo by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour/Asian Tour via Getty Images)
While it was only a month ago that Catlin completed his hat-trick in Europe, it was only five years ago that he burst onto the scene and became a prolific winner.
He claimed the Combiphar Golf Invitational in Indonesia on the Asian Development Tour in 2016, won again on that Tour the following year, and in 2018 triumphed three times on the Asian Tour – leading to him to being voted by his peers the Asian Tour Player of the Year. And, he won on the Asian Tour the following season, at the Thailand Open, before taking Europe by storm in September 2020 with victories in the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
A remarkable and inspiring streak for a player who had been struggling to find a place to regularly play tournaments after turning professional in 2013.
Catlin will try and emulate the success of his compatriot Shaun Micheel – who in 2003, after having cut his professional teeth in Asia and won the 1998 Singapore Open, claimed the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, ranked 169th in the World, becoming one of the biggest underdogs to win a Major.
Jazz walks to the 10th tee during the final round of the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black course on May 19, 2019 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Six-time Asian Tour winner Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand, who impressively tied 14th in this event in 2019, tees-off at 1.31 in the afternoon, on the 10th; Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino, winner last week at the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup, starts at 9.12am on the first; and Asian Tour winner Kurt Kitayama from the United States is off at 12.30pm, also from hole one.
Korea’s Y.E. Yang believes it will not take another 12 years for the region to herald a third major champion following Hideki Matsuyama’s stunning victory at the Masters Tournament last month.
Ahead of this week’s PGA Championship which is the year’s second major, Yang tipped six-time PGA TOUR winner Matsuyama to compile more major victories and expects his fellow countrymen such as Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim to also succeed on the major stage.
Yang wrote golf history in 2009 when he became Asia’s first male major champion by winning the PGA Championship at Hazeltine where he overcame a two-shot deficit in the final round to defeat Tiger Woods in a memorable head-to-head duel.
CHASKA, MN – AUGUST 16: Y.E. Yang of South Korea poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after his three-stroke victory at the 91st PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 16, 2009 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
It strangely took more than a decade before Asia savoured another major high when Matsuyama became the first Japanese champion at the Masters, which Yang said he followed every shot of the final round at Augusta National on TV.
“I watched the final round until the final moment. Hideki stayed in control of his game until the end without losing focus. He earned the title to become the first Asian player win at Augusta National, which I want to congratulate him. I believe he can win more major titles and he will have a positive effect on Japanese and Asian golf. Prior to the Masters, I always felt Hideki could win one of majors,” said Yang.
As a former PGA champion, Yang will feature in this week’s elite 156-man field gathered at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. He will be joined by Matsuyama, Im, Kim, Byeong Hun An and last week’s AT&T Byron Nelson winner, K.H. Lee. Talented Japanese duo Takumi Kanaya and Rikuya Hoshino, and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond will also fly Asia’s flag at Kiawah Island.
Yang, a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, is preparing to make the transition to PGA TOUR Champions as he turns 50 next January and he has kept himself competitive by playing in tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour and in Asia in recent times.
“Twelve years have passed since the first Asian win in a major and Hideki subsequently won. I really think more Asian players will go on to win major titles now. Players who can potentially win are Sungjae Im, Siwoo Kim, Byeong Hun An and K.H.Lee. They are potential candidates to be our next major champion,” said Yang, who earned the nickname Tiger-tamer following his historic victory over Woods.
CHASKA, MN – AUGUST 16: Y.E. Yang of South Korea celebrates his birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round of the 91st PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 16, 2009 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
“As for Hideki, now that he has already won the Masters and several other PGA TOUR tournaments, I can only see him setting a record for most PGA TOUR wins by an Asian player as long as he keeps his focus on the game.”
Twelve years may be a long time but Yang has vivid memories of his great triumph over Woods.
“It’s been more than 10 years now that I competed against Tiger and won. That event will always stay in my memory for a very long time. It will be one of my career highlights for sure,” he said.
Yang is confident he can compete against the other legends of the game on PGA TOUR Champions. He should receive a number of exemptions next year through his success on the PGA TOUR.
CHASKA, MN – AUGUST 16: Y.E. Yang of South Korea (2nd L) celebrates a birdie putt on the 18th green alongside Tiger Woods (2nd R) during the final round of the 91st PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on August 16, 2009 in Chaska, Minnesota. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
“If I get onto PGA TOUR Champions, I will be one of the younger players. And for that, I will try my best to make every event count and perform well. When I play on the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour, I do feel I’m not the same like during my younger days. I hope to be more competitive on Champions.
“I’ve enjoyed my time on the PGA TOUR where there were some ups and downs. But I feel very proud with my success and have great pride and joy,” said Yang, who has made 192 starts on the PGA TOUR and earned close to US$9 million in prize winnings.
Ends.
Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino made his 25th birthday a truly memorable one when he won the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup Golf on Sunday for his fifth victory on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) and second triumph this year.
Hoshino, who turned 25 years old five days ago, started the week on a good note as he earned an invitation to this week’s PGA Championship by virtue of being ranked 100th on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Photo credit: JGTO
The talented Japanese would go on to end the week on an even better note, securing another invitation to The Open this July following his victory, which also marked his third win in the extended 2020-21 season on the JGTO.
Hoshino battled against gusty winds to sign off with a second consecutive three-under-par 69 and win by four shots over 2011 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines with a 13-under-par 275 total at the Sagamihara Golf Club’s East Course.
“I just can’t believe that this could be done. I pushed myself to the limit and I have given it all. I felt so exhausted after the tournament,” said Hoshino, who climbed to a career-best 69th place on the OWGR following his win.
Hoshino extended his overnight two-shot lead to six after sinking birdies on the second, fifth and eighth holes. He dropped two straight bogeys on 11 and 12 but recovered swiftly with birdies on the next two holes.
“I was in shock when I made bogeys and that really put me under pressure. I told myself no matter how many shots I am leading, I wanted to play aggressively. That strong mentality gave me those birdies on 13 and 14”, added Hoshino, who won the Kansai Open Golf Championship last month.
Hoshino took over the driver’s seat on the JGTO’s money list, thanks to his win. He also put himself in a good position to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics with his new ranking on the OWGR where he hails as the second highest ranked Japanese following Hideki Matsuyama, who sits in 15th.
Ends.
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