Asian Tour Yearbook: 2023

I N T ER NAT IONA L SER I E S OMA N A L MO U J GO L F | F E B R UA RY 9 - 1 2 | P R I Z E MON E Y U S $ 2 M I L L I ON OH MAN! TAKUMI’S TOO GOOD AT INTERNATIONAL SERIES OPENER PIVOTAL FIRST OVERSEAS VICTORY FOR JAPAN STAR Takumi Kanaya (RIGHT) made a splash at the inaugural International Series Oman. I t was a week of many firsts at the International Series Oman – thanks to an inspired victory by Takumi Kanaya. Japan’s supremely talented golfer came of an age following a fine four- shot win at Al Mouj Golf, for his maiden professional victory overseas. It also marked the first time that an International Series event had been won by a player from Japan, and surprisingly he became the first player from his country to win an Asian Tour event outside of Japan since Tetsuji Hiratsuka claimed the Black Mountain Masters in 2010. 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 had been striving to make his mark on the international stage. He finally achieved that with an eye- catching performance in what was the second event of the season on the Asian Tour and first of the year’s International Series tournaments. 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. “It is an honour to win the event, an International Series tournament,” said Kanaya, after what was his first success 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 the final round with a one-shot advantage over compatriot Ryo Hisatsune. At the turn, thanks to an attacking outward nine bogey free three-under-par 33, he had opened 37