HIRATA FIGHTS BACK T0 BECOME YOUNGEST-EVER WINNER

Kensei Hirata weathered a mid-round meltdown to shoot a final round one-under-par 71, clinching a two-shot wire-to-wire victory at the Japan PGA Championship in Hokkaido on Sunday.

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Osaka-born Hirata started the day a stroke clear of Kunihiro Kamii, swiftly extending his lead to two by birdieing his very first hole at the Eniwa Country Club.

However, by the end of the first nine holes, Hirata found himself two shots behind his playing partner, Kamii. This came after the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open champion unexpectedly squandered three bogeys in a mere four holes starting from number six.

But having the experience of a tournament winner undeniably assisted Hirata. He recovered superbly with birdies on holes number 12, 14, 15, and 17 to restore a threeshot lead.

He could afford a bogey on the final hole and finished two shots ahead of heavyweights Taiga Semikawa and Takumi Kanaya, with a four-day total of 11-under-par 277.