Kota Kaneko clinched his second JGTO title in commanding fashion by signing off with a two-under-par 68 for a four-day total of 17-under-par 263 to win the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters by six shots on Sunday.
Related: Chasing W No 5, Kota Kaneko extends lead
Kaneko’s victory at the Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course was his second in five months since he broke through at the Kansai Open in May this year. And it was a win that the 23-year-old was confident of securing from the second round after he seized the lead.
“The first win involved a lot of luck, but this victory felt nearly perfect from the second round onwards. I was confident as my tee shots were more accurate, and my putting distance control improved a lot,” said Kaneko.
View this post on Instagram
Kaneko also credited his support system for his win and said, “My parents came to support me today, and that was a huge motivation.”
The 23-year-old started the final round with a five-shot cushion and quickly extended his advantage with two birdies in his first three holes. He would par the rest of the holes, but his comfortable lead had already given him enough distance between himself and the chasing pack.
“I had a three-shot lead, but I had set a goal of reaching 20-under, so I focused on that. I tried not to think about the difference. Even with potential trouble, I just focused on making par, and it worked out well.”
Kaneko also credited his mental fortitude for his decisive victory.
“After playing in the final group for two consecutive weeks at the Japan Open and Fortinet, I wanted to stay calm. My goal today was to play calmly, and I think I really grew by doing that. I focused on keeping my usual rhythm, which helped me stay composed.”
View this post on Instagram
With another victory secured on the JGTO, Kaneko is now setting his sights on winning abroad.
“Winning on the PGA Tour is my ultimate goal, and I want to work toward that. For now, I’ll carefully consider my next steps and explore options like playing in Europe. This year has shown me that I need to prepare carefully for each opportunity,” said Kaneko.
Korea’s Lee Sang-hee, meanwhile, closed with a 69 to finish in solo second while Taiki Yoshida posted a 64 to finish third.
