Yuta Sugiura takes down a Masters champion in his final amateur event
19 Nov 2023
by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Yuta Sugiura Rankings
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Yuta Sugiura (Japan Golf Tour Photo)
After shooting a first-round 7-under 64 to sit just one back of 2021 Master's champion Hideki Matsuyama, Japanese amateur
Yuta Sugiura shot rounds of 64-68-69-71 to shoot 12-under and win the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament by three shots.
Taiga Semikawya and former top amateur Keita Nakajima finished T2 at 9-under.
"I'm really happy. It was a goal I've had for a long time, and I'm truly happy to have achieved it in my last match as an amateur," Sugiura told the Japan Golf Tour.
Suguira followed up his victory by immediately declaring that he was turning professional.
The win now positions Sugiura among the long and accomplished list of winners in the tournament's history, joining the likes of Tiger Woods, Masashi Jumbo Ozaki, Ernie Els, Luke Donald, Brooks Koepka, and Hideki Matsuyama.
"What makes this victory extra special is that the tournament is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and many foreign stars were also participating," Sugiura told the Japan Golf Tour. "It's truly a wonderful tournament."
Semikawa's closing 5-under 66 featured seven birdies and two bogeys and was only good enough to place him in a share of second at nine-under with Nakajima, who shot a final round 2-under 69.
Semikawa can relate to Sugiura, as he also won a JGTO event as an amateur.
However, Semikawa, who secured victories at the Panasonic Open and Japan Open last year, was quick to point out that Sugiura's triumph did not come as a surprise.
"It's remarkable. I can relate to it to some extent. Sugiura had a much higher standing than I did since our student days," Semikawa told the Japan Golf Tour.
"Despite my sudden ascent to the title of world amateur ranking first place last year, Sugiura had already established himself as a significantly superior player since his college days," Semikawa said. "His victory wasn't unexpected."
Brad Kennedy of Australia finished as the highest-placed international competitor after carding a 72, securing a T4 position with a total of 277.
2023 PGA champion Brooks Koepka also registered a 2-over 72 final round to finish T15 at three-under total, while fellow PGA Tour stars Sahith Theegala and 2023 U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark posted final rounds of even par 71 and 1-under 70 to be placed T31 and T37, respectively.
"Despite the four-shot difference, I knew I could be caught up in an instant with a small mistake, so I kept my focus on each shot without letting my guard down," said Sugiura.