Rintaro Nakano wins Japan Amateur

June 30, 2023 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

Rintaro Nakano (Japan Golf Association photo)

With the victory, Nakano becomes the top-ranked amateur golfer in Japan

Rintaro Nakano won the Japan Amateur Golf Championship at Tsukisap Golf Club in a playoff over Riku Unose.

The tournament was held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, with 62 players participating.

Nakano, a member of the JGA Green Club, started as the sole leader at 13-under-par. Standing on the 18t tee, he held a one-shot lead. When the bogeyed the last he would face a playoff with Riku Unose of JGM Kasama GC who finished tied with him at 15-under. With the playoff win, Nakano became the number one amateur golfer in Japan.

Kohei Okada (Sky Bay GC), who had been aiming for consecutive championships, continued to catch up with a 6-under-par 66 on the final day but fell a single shot short of the playoff, finishing in 3rd place with a total of 14-under-par.

Next year's championship, which marks the 100th anniversary of the Japan Golf Association, will be held at the Hirono Golf Club (June 25-28).

Results: Japan Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Rintaro Nakano	, Japan	700	69-68-66-70=273
2	Riku Unose	, Japan	500	69-67-70-67=273
3	Kohei Okada	, Japan	400	73-69-66-66=274
T4	Suguru Shimoke	, Japan	400	70-69-70-66=275
T4	Kota Iwai	, Japan	400	67-74-66-68=275