Taiga Semikawa wrapped up his JGTO season in style with a second title after narrowly defeating Keita Nakajima and Takumi Kanaya by one shot in the final round of the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Semikawa shot a two-under-par 68 to finish at 15-under 265 at the Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club, securing his second victory following the Kansai Open earlier in April.
Related: Nakajima, Kanaya rivalry regales in JGTO finale
Kanaya and Nakajima closed with 67 and 69 respectively to share runner-up positions, while South Korea’s Song Young-han finished with a 68 to sit solo fourth at 12-under.
Semikawa’s victory marked the conclusion of his second successive season on the Tour with multiple wins.
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Last year, he sensationally won the Panasonic Open and Japan Open, both as an amateur.
Semikawa was pleased to return to the winners’ circle after eight months, which he described as a “long wait.”
“It’s been eight months since my first professional win, and although I’ve been close a few times, it felt like a long wait, making it hard to envision a win this week. So, this victory comes as a delightful surprise, and I’m truly elated,” said Semikawa.
Starting the day as joint leaders with Nakajima, Semikawa pulled one shot clear at the turn after trading two birdies with a bogey while the former mixed two birdies with as many bogeys.
Nakajima drew level by picking up another on the 10th but failed to gain further ground, paring the remaining holes.
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Semikawa maintained his composure, making two more birdies to offset another dropped shot on the 16th to seal the win.
Kanaya tried to stage a late charge, birdieing three of his last six holes, but he couldn’t gain another shot at the last to force a playoff.
Ryo Ishikawa, seeking his third title in the tournament, failed to mount a strong challenge after enduring a nightmarish back nine where he dropped five shots to settle for a 73.
Semikawa was proud to upstage his “superstar” seniors to come out on top in front of the large galleries.
“Playing alongside superstars like Ishikawa and Nakajima was incredible, and the number of spectators was the largest I’ve ever experienced,” said Semikawa.
“My aim was to hit as many good shots as possible and leave a lasting impression on the spectators, so I’m thrilled to have secured the win.
“I focused on playing my own game and committed to doing my best, regardless of the outcome.
“There are many people who have supported me over the years, and I’m overjoyed to win such a significant tournament for them.
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“This year has been filled with invaluable experiences, including playing in PGA and DP World Tour events. Ending the season with a win is a tremendous achievement.
“Looking ahead, my goal is to continue improving as a player and hopefully create more memorable moments for the fans next year.”
Nakajima was not disheartened despite missing out on what could have been a fourth title of the season by a whisker.
He commended Semikawa for putting up a stellar performance to deservingly win the thrilling race.
“Like yesterday, I played at my own pace, which I’m very pleased with, and I’m happy about how I conducted myself. My putting in the last two or three holes was crucial. I had a good read of the lines, but my strokes were a bit too forceful. I believe those final putts were what ultimately made the difference between Semikawa (who finished first) and myself today,” said Nakajima, who notched his fifth runner-up finish of the season.
“This year has been fantastic for me. Beyond my three wins, the thrill of competing down to the wire with a great rival like Kanaya was incredibly enjoyable.
“Playing in front of numerous spectators throughout the year was a wonderful experience. Now being in a position I once admired as a child, I hope to provide a memorable experience for the children watching, just as I had when I was young.”
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Kanaya rued a missed opportunity after enduring a rough start to his round, where he could only sandwich two bogeys between two birdies in the first five holes.
However, he was delighted to have persevered and made a push until the end.
“I had a tough start, but I tried to persevere and not lose hope. I believe not being able to capitalise on key opportunities was my downfall today, but I put in my utmost effort, so I’m content with that,” he said.
“Competing with Nakajima until the very end was an invaluable experience, and it’s been a fantastic season overall. I think I need to improve my performance under pressure, as that seemed to be the key difference between Nakajima and me.
“This experience will serve as additional motivation for next year on the DP World Tour. I recognise that every day is crucial, and I need to prepare myself thoroughly.”
Leading final round scores:
265: Taiga Semikawa 67-64-66-68;
266: Takumi Kanaya 64-67-68-67, Keita Nakajima 63-66-68-69;
268: Song Young-han 66-69-65-68;
270: Yuki Inamori 70-67-68-65;
271: Hideto Tanihara 68-66-68-69;
272: Takashi Ogiso 70-68-66-68, Ryo Ishikawa 68-69-62-73;
274: Shugo Imahira 68-70-69-67;
275: Kensei Hirata 68-68-71-68, Taisei Sato 74-71-63-71.
