Japan’s Takumi Kanaya secured a convincing victory at the International Series Oman to record his first professional victory outside of Japan in just his third outing on the Asian Tour.
The 24-year-old from Hiroshima shot a final round one-under-par 71 to finish on 10 under and beat American Berry Henson (70) and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana (72) by four strokes.
England’s Steve Lewton (71) finished fourth, one shot further back, while Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann from Chile, both in with 74s, tied for fifth another two strokes behind.
The stunning scenic coastline of Al Mouj Golf provided the perfect background for some brilliant front running golf by Kanaya, already a three-time winner on home soil who has been striving to make his mark on the international stage.
He finally achieved that with an eye-catching performance in what is the second event of the season on the Asian Tour and first of the year’s International Series tournaments.
“It is an honour to win the event, an International Series tournament,” said Kanaya, after what is also his first win since April of 2021 when he won the Token Homemate Cup, on the Japan Tour. “It has been a difficult two years but I am so happy to finally win again.”
After taking the lead on day two he was never caught and began today’s round with a one-shot advantage from compatriot Ryo Hisatsune. At the turn, thanks to a fine outward nine bogey free three-under-par 33, he had opened up a five-shot gap from Hisatsune and appeared to be coasting before he missed short putts on 12 and 13 to see his lead cut to three from playing-partner Sadom.
Despite the wind starting to strengthen and threatening to play havoc with his push for victory, Kanaya then moved four ahead again when he birdied the 15th, but dropped a stroke on the next to return to three in front.
The contest was soon virtually settled when he made a birdie on the 16th before Sadom dropped a shot on 17 to give his Japanese opponent a five-shot lead playing 18. Kanaya could afford the luxury of missing a 10-foot par putt on the last. Said Kanaya:
The Asian Tour stays in the Middle East next week and will stage the inaugural US$2.5 million International Series Qatar at Doha Golf Club, from February 16-19
